National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Whatever page of human history you turn, whatever culture or civilization you study you will, at some point, come across a herbalist. Known over the centuries by many different names, wise women, shaman, witch or witch doctor these people used their knowledge and skills to heal – sometimes with remarkable effect. From its inception in 1864 one of NIMH’s primary focuses has been to promote and advance the cause of herbal education.

Our modern Education Department continues in this fine tradition. NIMH were at the forefront in developing an accreditation process for BSc and latterly MSc programmes which ensures a rigorous, high quality training for the modern medical herbalist.

NIMH are anxious to support students who enrol on any accredited course of herbal medicine and so we have appointed a Student Liaison Officer who visits all the universities on a regular basis to talk to students and find our what NIMH can do to help them throughout their studies. We offer a Student Affiliation Scheme which any of these students are eligible to join. This enables them to be associated from the outset with a professional body of qualified and practicing medical herbalists.

We take the issue of clinical training very seriously and all training clinics have access to our Clinic Co-ordinator who can help them resolve training and provision related issues.

Once students graduate and join the Institute they are automatically enrolled on our Initial Professional Development Programme. This places them with an experienced mentor who will help guide them in setting up their practice, and with any patient related problems during their first year in practice.

Following the completion of the Initial Professional Development Programme all herbalists are then required to take part in our mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme. This requires all practicing herbalists to undertake a self determined programme of personal development which is monitored by the Institute to ensure that all members are complying with the scheme.

In order to assist members in planning their programmes we have a Post Graduate Training Board which arranges a number of seminars throughout the country as well as speakers and workshops for our Annual Conference. All of these qualify for CPD credit.