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Nikki Darrell MNIMH has been working with plants, their medicine and healing, for over 4 decades as her fascination with the green beings started in early childhood and her primary teachers are the plants she works with.

She has worked as a research scientist in the field of plant science; a practitioner of herbal medicine, aromatherapy, aromatic medicine, reflexology, massage and body work; a gardener; an educator at all levels from introductory to 3rd level; campaigner and author of 6 books and many articles.

She holds a diploma from the School of Phytotherapy and a Masters in Social and Co-operative Enterprise which she embarked on due to her love of sustainable community development. Her passion and vocation is as a plants woman and medicine person.

Nikki and her husband Alex Duffy run The Plant Medicine School based near Gorey County Wexford. The School offers an Apprenticeship in Community Herbal Medicine and a Clinical Practitioner Diploma course which is accredited by the Irish Register of Herbalists, an Aromatherapy Diploma accredited by the International Federation of Aromatherapists  and introductory courses in herbal medicine and herb growing, as well as forage walks and has groups of students visit the garden to learn more about identifying and using the 200 plus species that grow here.

As well as training people through the Herbal Apprenticeship and Clinical Practitioner programmes, they facilitate the Nature Resonance work they have developed together; the work of helping people become re-enchanted with their place in the community of Nature, in harmony with the seen and unseen beings.  

Nikki's session will explore 'How People and Plants Communicate with Each Other', including some fascinating emerging science and plant neurobiology. 

Kat Maier RH, (AHG) is the founder and director of Sacred Plant Traditions, a center for herbal studies in Charlottesville, Virginia. One of her greatest accomplishments has been to train many clinical herbalists who have gone on to to begin other schools, apothecaries or open practices. In clinical practice for over 30 years, Kat teaches internationally at universities, conferences, and herbal schools. 

Kat is a founding member of Botanica Mobile Clinic, a nonprofit dedicated to providing accessible herbal medicine to local communities. This grew out of her school’s free clinic which was one of the first on the east coast and went on to be a template for other schools. She began her study of plants as a Peace Corps volunteer, and her training as a Physician’s Assistant allows her to weave the language of biomedicine into her practice of traditional energetic herbalism. She is coauthor of Bush Medicine of San Salvador Island, Bahamas. As a passionate steward of the plants, Kat also served as president of United Plant Savers and was the recipient of the organization’s first Medicinal Plant Conservation Award.

Kat's session will focus on 'Energetic Herbalism' where she will be taking a deep look at how energetics are foundational to a herbal practice.

Dr Jason Hawrelak is a researcher, educator, Western herbalist, and naturopathic physician with over 20 years’ clinical experience. He did his PhD examining the capacity of probiotics, prebiotics and herbal medicines to modify the gastrointestinal tract microbiota and teaches worldwide on the topics of microbiota modification and gastrointestinal health.

Dr Hawrelak has published extensively in these areas, including 20 textbook chapters. Dr Hawrelak is on the Medical Nutrition Council of the American Society for Nutrition and is a Fellow of both the American College of Nutrition and the Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia.

Dr Hawrelak maintains a busy clinical practice in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia where he consults with patients from all over the world. 

Dr Hawrelak has taught health professionals at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level for the past 20 years. He is currently the Senior Lecturer in Complementary and Alternative Medicines at the University of Tasmania’s College of Health and Medicine (Hobart, Tasmania), where he coordinates the Evidence-based Complementary Medicine programs and also teaches natural approaches to Gastroenterology within the University of Western States Master of Science in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine program (Portland, Oregon).

Additionally, Dr Hawrelak is Chief Research Officer at ProbioticAdvisor.com, which offers a searchable database that enables the easy, evidence-based prescribing of probiotic products and online resources for clinicians to learn more about the human microbiome and how they can positively influence these ecosystems. 

Dr Hawrelak will present a fascinating session on ‘Herbal Medicines and the Gastrointestinal (GIT) Microbiota - Herbs that Nurture and Herbs that Kill’. In this presentation, Dr Hawrelak will provide a brief overview of the importance of the GIT microbiota and will highlight some of the published research that has assessed the impact of herbal medicines on our GIT microbiome. 

Simon FNIMH has been practising in Exeter since 1977 and has been at the forefront of herbal, complementary and integrated health care development in the UK, Europe, USA and Australasia ever since.

Just as he thought he should wind down, Pukka Herbs took him on as a Herbal Strategist and he now has his first proper job. He is also Chief Herbal Officer at the revived Herbal Reality website working with Pukka founder Sebastian Pole, and in the last two years has been presenting webinars for the Mills and Bone Academy with Kerry Bone.

There is a huge amount of ongoing research into Covid-19 and in this session, Simon will take stock of this and also our clinical experiences of long Covid whilst bringing together some of the best tools we have to fit the job.

Dawn Whitten [BNat (Hons), FNHAA, IBCLC] is a Western Herbalist, Naturopath and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant. She has a broad-base of clinical experience with a focus on women’s health through pregnancy and beyond, and infant and toddler health. She has been in clinical practice for 17+ years. 

Dawn is part of Goulds Natural Medicine, a busy apothecary, clinic and associated herb farm in Tasmania, Australia. Within this setting Dawn has mentored many new graduates through the Goulds internship program as well as in an ongoing capacity. 

Dawn has a particular passion for sharing her lactation knowledge with clinicians. She has published in the peer-reviewed literature and has contributed to clinical textbooks (Including the Breastfeeding chapter in the recently published Hechtman L Ed, 2020, Advanced Clinical Naturopathic Medicine 2020, Elsevier). 

Dawn coordinates two units within the Evidence-based Complementary Medicine Program in the College of Health & Medicine at the University of Tasmania. She is part of the research team at Probitic.Advisor.com. Dawn has also been a research assistant in the area of herbal medicine safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding at Southern Cross University and has peer-reviewed in this area for the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. 

Dawn obtained a Bachelor of Naturopathy with First Class Honours from Southern Cross University (NSW, Australia). Her Honours topic was within the field of herb-drug interactions and part of this work was published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. Dawn has been awarded a Fellowship by the Naturopath and Herbalist Association of Australia for her contribution to the field of herbal medicine in Australia.

Dawn will be exploring 'Balancing safety considerations with therapeutic needs when prescribing herbal medicine to breastfeeding mothers'. 

Prescribing herbal medicines to breastfeeding mothers brings unique challenges particularly as the health of a mother and their infant is intertwined. Dawn will consider breastfeeding herbal medicine safety concepts and explore some of the clinical reasoning that can help us work through a decision around treatment.

Keith is a Fellow of the Institute. He is a much respected visionary and pioneer of traditional energetic and contemplative approaches in professional herbal training in the UK. After serving on the Institute Council, inspired by his late friend and mentor Christopher Hedley, he established the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine in Glasgow with his then wife Maureen in 1992. They ran the School together for the next 18 years training to BSc (Hons) and MSc level; inspired in this by a vegan philosophy and a contemplative and experiential research approach first suggested by the polymath Johann von Goethe.

In recognition of his vision with the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, as well as his work with the Institute and European Accreditation Boards, he was awarded a Fellowship in 2004 in acknowledgement of his services to herbal education. A correspondence pre-course, a 14 day course in Celtic herbal medicine and an international apprenticeship programme are now run from his herb farm on the Isle of Arran, which researches herbal medicines and vegan organic growing techniques. He has been in practice since 1989. 

Join Keith as he guides us through a beautiful, virtual herb walk on the Island of Arran around Drimlabarra Herb Farm  - home to the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine - and its environs.

There will be herbs to identify and the herb walk will be followed by a live question and answer session - a proper herb walk in good company and with clean shoes!

Helen is a chartered marketer, an author, speaker, and content creator specialising in helping holistic practitioners find clients and thrive.

Having spent over 20 years working in marketing and business, she followed her interest in personal development. Within four years Helen was earning a living as a practitioner, working three days a week but earning the equivalent of a full-time salary, so she knows exactly what it takes to set up and market a holistic business.

Helen’s passion for marketing and business never left her, and she recognised that these were the areas, her fellow holistic practitioners struggled with most. After 14 years working as a practitioner, Helen retired from her clinical work to focus on supporting other practitioners to grow their holistic businesses.

Helen’s unique approach blends her skills in personal development, marketing, and business to help her clients create a business based on them and the people they help. It’s totally possible to find clients and build a sustainable business that feels ethical and is full of integrity.

Connect with Helen on social media: @helenhardinguk

Helen will focus on sustainability and how to future proof your herbal medicine business.

Having strong foundations in place can help you to weather any storms that come your way. You will feel more in control of the situation, and it will help to build trust and the strong relationships that will keep patients coming back to you.

Kristy Bredin began her journey as a herbalist in 2009, when she began a two-year apprenticeship with herbalist Robin Rose Bennett in New York. For over a decade she has worked with Ryan Drum, wildcrafting medicinal herbs and cultivating an in-depth knowledge of traditional Western herbalism and local plants and seaweeds.

Since 2013 she has been sharing plant remedies of the Pacific Northwest through Mermaid Botanicals. Mermaid Botanicals now encompasses Ryan Drum’s Island Herbs since he retired from wildcrafting in 2019.

Kristy practices as a herbalist in the San Juan Islands, WA, working with clients to support their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing through nourishing foods, herbs, and lifestyle choices. She has studied clinical herbalism with Chanchal Cabrera, Paul Bergner, Matthew Wood, and Margi Flint.

Kristy is passionate about exploring the natural world and working with wild plants in ancient and creative ways. She supports folks in re-engaging and integrating with their natural environment through wild plant medicine work. To this end, Kristy offers a variety of classes in the field and online. In 2017 she founded an Herbal Medicine Apprenticeship Program: an immersive exploration of wild foods, seaweeds, and plant medicines of the San Juan Islands. She currently offers classes on seaweeds, wild plants, and healing with herbs locally and internationally.

Join Kristy as she discusses seaweed for health and healing.  Her wonderful session will cover; types of seaweed, seaweed ecosystems, their healing properties, iodine and thyroid health, external uses of seaweeds and pollution issues.

Kamaldeep Sidhu MNIMH is a medical herbalist and health coach in private practice, who also teaches extensively, including lecturing on the Clinical Herbalism degree course at Lincoln University.

Kamaldeep is a Board member of the European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioner Association and is an active member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and the British Herbal Medicine Association.

Kamaldeep’s training and experience in the fields of professional medical herbalism, wellbeing coaching and functional medicine means that she uses a wide range of approaches to deliver integrative healthcare.

Join Kamaldeep for a talk as she invites you to reflect on - what are psychedelics?  What is their potential for mental health disorders? How can this help heal people and the planet?

Erika Galentin, MNIMH, RH (AHG) is a medical herbalist consulting from Sovereignty Herbs in Athens and Columbus, OH, USA.  Erika holds a degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK and Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, Glasgow, UK.  She is a professional member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK) and the American Herbalists Guild (USA). She is also a proud member of Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society in Horticulture (USA).

In addition to clinical practice, Erika is both a student and teacher of horticulture, native medicinal plant conservation and ecology, and the phenomenological and Goethean study of plants and their medicinal virtues. With her dedication to medicinal plants native to Ohio and the Greater Appalachian region, Erika teaches, lectures, and writes on native medicinal plant conservation and applied ecology, propagation, herbalism, and clinical efficacy. She also participates as a member of the Education Advisory Council of the American Herbalists Guild as well as the Stewardship Committee of Appalachia Ohio Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of land and water in Southeast Ohio.

Erika is the author of The Family Guide to Aromatherapy: A Safe Approach to Essential Oils for a Holistic Home

You can follow Erika and Sovereignty Herbs on Facebook and Instagram.

Erika will take you on a virtual adventure through the Appalachian forests where you will learn more about beloved yet ‘at risk’ forest medicinals. She will walk you through their life stories including preferred habitat, reproduction, and ecology as a framework for understanding their plight for survival under the pressures of overharvesting for the medicinal plant trade.

Catriona Gibson, MNIMH and Grass Roots Remedies, and Ju Scott, Plot 26 have been working together since 2016 on a number of grassroots projects in and around Glasgow.  These include Herbal Unity - a herb garden and herbal medicine solidarity project for people in Glasgow in the immigration system and the project they will be focusing on today - Plot 26 - a community allotment plot which provides a learning environment for growing and using medicinal herbs.

Catriona is a medical herbalist and member of Grass Roots Remedies, a herbal workers co-operative based in Scotland. Grass Roots Remedies offers a low cost clinic in Edinburgh and workshops and learning opportunities across Glasgow and Edinburgh and online. These include a seasonal 8 month course on wild food and medicine, Wild Things, and the Herbal Apprenticeship with The Plant Medicine School Scotland (PMSS). Ju is a herbal student with The Plant Medicine School Scotland and the gardening co-ordinator for Plot 26, supporting our 30 volunteers, many of whom are also students with Grass Roots Remedies.

Ju and Catriona invite you to enjoy a short video about Plot 26, the people who use it and Grass Roots Remedies’ work in general. They will then be taking questions on the experience of setting up a community herb garden.

Growing is one thing, but the preparation of the plants post harvest is something else and requires significant skill. It is not simply putting the plants through a cutting machine. Planta Medica, your cooperative is at the forefront of keeping herbal medicine local, tracaeble sustainable and real. Through your efforts we have now donated over GBP 100,000 into great projects within the herbal community. Join the revolution

Please enjoy a delightful video about our latest project in beautiful County Wexford, Ireland.

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Originally established in the 1980s, Herbal Apothecary has been providing high quality herbal products to practitioners, the trade and the public for over 30 years. It is the herbal medicines brand from Nature’s Laboratory Ltd, a Yorkshire based organisation with herbal medicine at its core.

Herbal Apothecary produce one of the largest ranges of practitioner herbal products in the UK. Many of the products developed with practitioners are now available to trade customers and the wider public. Their ethos is driven by 3 guiding principles of Evidence, Sustainability and Access

For 40 years Organic Herb Trading have grown, sourced and supplied the UK's largest range of high quality botanicals for a diverse range of customers - in the herbal tea, food, skincare and medicinal markets.

Their customers, based in the UK and worldwide, range from individual practitioners to the most respected global organic brands including Yeo Valley, Pukka Herbs, Neal’s Yard Remedies and Riverford Organic.

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