Herbal Organisations
National Institute of Medical Herbalists
NIMH was first established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864 by a group of herbalists from the north of England. It is the UK’s largest professional body representing herbal practitioners. The Institute is self-regulating and is run on a voluntary basis. The Institute maintains a register of individual members, sets the profession’s educational standards and runs an accreditation system for training establishments, maintains mandatory programmes of professional development, has a complaints mechanism and disciplinary procedures, requires members to have professional indemnity insurance.
The College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy
This is another professional body of medical herbalists in the UK set up in 1991, with an emphasis on the use of scientific research to inform herbal treatments.
The Herb Society, UK
The Herb Society, established 80 years ago, is an educational charity dedicated to encouraging the appreciation and use of herbs. It brings together those interested in herbs whether they are professionals or amateurs. Their website is a good resource
Living Medicine Project
Living Medicine’s aim is to re-skill us all in using food and herbs for our everyday healthcare, sharing knowledge across cultures. Their plan it to set up an educational centre in London with gardens and space for ongoing education in medicinal plants.
NIMH was first established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864 by a group of herbalists from the north of England. It is the UK’s largest professional body representing herbal practitioners. The Institute is self-regulating and is run on a voluntary basis. The Institute maintains a register of individual members, sets the profession’s educational standards and runs an accreditation system for training establishments, maintains mandatory programmes of professional development, has a complaints mechanism and disciplinary procedures, requires members to have professional indemnity insurance.
The College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy
This is another professional body of medical herbalists in the UK set up in 1991, with an emphasis on the use of scientific research to inform herbal treatments.
The Herb Society, UK
The Herb Society, established 80 years ago, is an educational charity dedicated to encouraging the appreciation and use of herbs. It brings together those interested in herbs whether they are professionals or amateurs. Their website is a good resource
Living Medicine Project
Living Medicine’s aim is to re-skill us all in using food and herbs for our everyday healthcare, sharing knowledge across cultures. Their plan it to set up an educational centre in London with gardens and space for ongoing education in medicinal plants.
Books
Hedgerow Medicine: Harvest and Make Your Own Herbal Remedies by Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal (2008)
This is a great book that introduces you to herbs that are common to the UK.
Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies by David Hoffmann (1990)
David Hoffman is a great herbalist and this book is a very good introduction to using herbs.
Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram (1998)
This quick reference guide is in alphabetical order which makes it easy to access.
A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve, C.F. Leyel and Mrs. C. F. Leyel (1996)
This was compiled in 1930, it covers the medicinal use of many plants, including their interesting historical uses.
The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual by James Green (2000)
I love this book – an in depth introduction into how to make your own medicines; from tinctures to creams
Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J Elpel (2004)
This is a brilliant book to introduce you to botany. He groups the herbs into families, introducing some of their general patterns.
The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland by Francis Rose and Clare O’Reilly (Author updated edition) (2006)
This was first published about 30 years ago and is the best guide to plant identification using plant identification keys and coloured drawings.
This is a great book that introduces you to herbs that are common to the UK.
Holistic Herbal: A Safe and Practical Guide to Making and Using Herbal Remedies by David Hoffmann (1990)
David Hoffman is a great herbalist and this book is a very good introduction to using herbs.
Bartram’s Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Thomas Bartram (1998)
This quick reference guide is in alphabetical order which makes it easy to access.
A Modern Herbal by Maude Grieve, C.F. Leyel and Mrs. C. F. Leyel (1996)
This was compiled in 1930, it covers the medicinal use of many plants, including their interesting historical uses.
The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual by James Green (2000)
I love this book – an in depth introduction into how to make your own medicines; from tinctures to creams
Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification by Thomas J Elpel (2004)
This is a brilliant book to introduce you to botany. He groups the herbs into families, introducing some of their general patterns.
The Wild Flower Key (Revised Edition) – How to identify wild plants, trees and shrubs in Britain and Ireland by Francis Rose and Clare O’Reilly (Author updated edition) (2006)
This was first published about 30 years ago and is the best guide to plant identification using plant identification keys and coloured drawings.
