It is with great sadness, that we have to inform members of the sudden death of Linda Smith. Linda joined the NIMH in 2006 and had lived and practiced in Surrey. Between 2007 and 2009, she worked as one of the Institute’s information line volunteers covering email and postal enquiries and was a very efficient and likable lady.

Her funeral will be held on May 2nd 2012 at Guildford crematorium chapel at 11.00am.  This will be followed by burial at Shamley Green woodland site. There will be a wake at the  Bricklayers Arms, Shamley Green.

Donations preferred to The CMA (Cardiomyopathy Assoc.) Flowers (please, no wreaths) c/o J.Gorringe & Son, 55 Hare Lane, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 3EF

If you wish to attend please RSVP to either of the people listed below.

Paul Home: 01932262414      Mobile: 07710191004

Email:    paulparasol@btinternet.com

Sarah Home: 01483271706   Mobile :07780778782

Email:    sarah.martin-1@tiscali.co.uk

Below is a small reflection of the type of person Linda was – written by her friend, Bernadette Dowling.

Linda Smith got most of her satisfaction in life from helping others. In her role as a Personnel Manager, before becoming a medical herbalist, she was motivated to help those struggling with problems at work. As this ideal became eroded in her career she decided to embark on a full time BSc (Hons) degree in 2003 at Westminster University and was a very successful student. She was known as a gentle student, for her dry sense of humour and bravery in tackling any issue no matter what the personal costs were. During this course she suffered from Graves Disease but continued the course without interruption. As a consequence of this condition, soon after graduating, she was diagnosed as suffering from the complication of Cardiomyopathy. However these personal health challenges did not stop Linda from running her herbal practice, taking herb walks, giving herbal talks to groups and giving herbal courses.

It therefore came as a huge shock to her partner Paul, when Linda collapsed as they were leaving their flat a week last Saturday. Despite carrying out external cardiac resuscitation until the ambulance arrived Linda’s heart could not be restarted.

Her friends and colleagues reflect on what a thoroughly decent loveable person she was and can be best remembered by this small story. When asked in her final clinical exam if she would like a glass of water replied “I would like something a lot blooming stronger than water to get me through this” Well anyone who knew Linda can do just that next Wednesday.

All the best,

Giuseppina Solinas

A photo of three new members just after taking their  Affirmation of Herbal Practice at the 147th NIMH Conference held at the Conway Hall in central London on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th November (left to right:  Catherine Bellchambers-Wilson, Rachel Simmons, Vivian Craig).

Thirty-nine new members have joined NIMH and are listed here:  Full list of new members[1]

All new members take the Affirmation of Herbal Practice to uphold the highest ethical standards of medical herbalism.  The affirmation ceremony takes place during the opening session of the Conference – new members are announced to the assembled Conference one by one, receive a certificate from the President, and then collectively take the Affirmation of Herbal Practice (witnessed by the rest of the Conference). 

The ceremony on Friday was followed by a speech from NIMH President Desiree Shelley, and then the AGM.

Voting results from the AGM can be found on the Members’ website: 

David Holmes’s World Report on herbal statutory regulation (April 30, p 1479)1 characterises the UK’s Royal College of Physicians (RCP) as being opposed to the statutory regulation of herbal practitioners when, in fact, the RCP is divided about it.

For 9 years, the RCP ran an Integrated Health Committee, attended by eminent RCP members, which throughout remained in favour of the statutory regulation of herbal practitioners and resulted in the RCP’s backing of the statutory regulation of herbalists in a public consultation about this in 2004.2 In 2008, Sir Ian Gilmore, as RCP President, wrote to the UK Government urging action on the statutory regulation of this sector.

In response to another public consultation in 2009,3 the Integrated Health Committee again recommended to the RCP Council that it should back this statutory regulation. Unfortunately, the RCP Council, influenced by well known voices opposed to the statutory regulation of herbal practitioners, reversed years of RCP support for herbal statutory regulation. The RCP’s volte face characterises statutory regulation as a badge of rank and efficacy. However, the primary function of statutory regulation is to protect the public from bad practice.

The economist Milton Friedman famously highlighted the self interest of the medical establishment in limiting entry into medicine.4, 5 It is fair to ask whether the RCP stance against the statutory regulation of herbalists is another example of this latent tendency. As such it should be ignored by the UK Government, which should introduce this measure without delay.

I declare that I have no conflicts of interest.

References
1 Holmes D. UK moves to ensure “access to unlicensed herbal medicines”. Lancet 2011; 377: 1479-1480. Full Text | PDF(173KB) | CrossRef | PubMed
2 Department of Health. Statutory regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture: report on the consultation. http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20100509080731/http://dh.gov.uk/en/
Consultations/sponsestoconsultations/DH_4103372 (accessed July 20, 2011).
3 Department of Health. A joint consultation on the Report to Ministers from the DH Steering Group on the Statutory Regulation of Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Other Traditional Medicine Systems Practised in the UK. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/
Liveconsultations/DH_103567. (accessed July 21, 2011).
4 Friedman M, Kuznets S. Income from independent professional practice. New York: NBER, 1945.
5 Friedman M. Capitalism and freedom. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1962.
a European Herbal and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association, Church Cottage, Church Westcote, Chipping Norton OX7 6SF, UK

Janet Hicks FNIMH

It is with deep regret and sadness that the NIMH Council must announce the death of Janet Hicks, FNIMH (Life Member).   

Janet died peacefully, after some years of illness, on 2nd August 2011, at the age of 56. 

Janet trained as a herbalist straight from school and joined the NIMH in 1977. She had clinics in Winchester and Fareham and helped thousands of people with herbal medicine in her practices.

Janet was always very generous with her time and expertise, and readily gave students and fellow practitioners advice and support. Many NIMH members benefited directly from her help by attending the training clinic that she ran in Winchester for many years. She was a tutor on the training course at the original School of Herbal Medicine and when it became the College of Phytotherapy. She gave seminars for the Postgraduate Training Board on the subject of gynaecology, a subject dear to her heart and one where she was a real expert.

Janet was heavily involved in the NIMH, having served twice on Council (1982-1991 and again from 1997-2000). She held the office of Honorary General Secretary (1982-90 and 1997-2000). Before the NIMH moved to a permanent office in January 1991, Janet handled all enquiriesfrom the general public and members alike from her home and was the face of the NIMH. Prospective patients and students alike passed through Janet’s hands on their way to practitioners or training.

In addition to her work for the NIMH, Janet was a longtime Trustee of the NIMH Education Fund. She had a good understanding of the way charities attract funds and did a huge amount of work raising funds to support herbal education and research, encouraging supporters to make donations and spent hours selling and packing up Christmas cards and sending out and retrieving collecting tins from members around the country.Janet’s work in this area had a major impact on the Fund which has benefited from bequests and donations over the years. Many students and members have been unwitting beneficiaries of these donations. As a result of fundraising the Education Fund was able to purchase buildings to house the original School of Herbal Medicine in Tunbridge Wells and the Balham and Manchester training clinics, and later supported the establishment of the Archway and Preston Training Clinics. Subsequent donations supported the purchase of equipment such as stethoscopes for the clinics.

Janet was awarded a Fellowship of the NIMH in April 1989, and Life Membership in April 2006, in recognition not just of her contribution to the field of herbal medicine but to her unstinting commitment tothe NIMH. She retired from practice completely in 2006 on health grounds.

Janet was noted for her generosity, her meticulous and dedicated work, and the warmth and love which everyone who knew her felt towards her. Janet loved herbs, gardening, wildlife and books. She touched many lives, and will be missed by many people.

Condolences to Janet’s husband, David, her son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren have been sent from the Council and members of the NIMH.

NIMH member Catriona Stewart celebrated Herbal Medicine Week by completing a PhD study of the practice of Western Herbal Medicine (the first in Scotland).  Catriona graduated in Edinburgh last week (commencing 20th June). The sun shone and the champagne was not elderflower, but thoroughly enjoyed anyway! Catriona’s doctoral research focussed on girls with Asperger’s syndrome and anxiety taking a course of professional Western Herbal Medicine.

Jane Ramsden leading herbal walks at East Riddlesden Hall

The National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) announces Herbal Medicine Week 2011 to take place from 18th to 26th June.

Herbal Medicine Week is an annual event that showcases herbal medicine through a programme of activities open to the general public.  As well as herbal walks (including the very popular walks on Midsummer’s Eve) there are practical workshops, information displays and free drop-in advice clinics. 

The programme is available on-line http://www.nimh.org.uk/?page_id=1633

Commenting on this year’s Herbal Medicine Week NIMH President Desiree Shelley said:

“2011 is a momentous year for herbal medicine in the United Kingdom with the government’s announcement in January that medical herbalists will receive statutory regulation as authorised healthcare professionals. It is against this backdrop that NIMH members are organising a cornucopia of events and activities to inform the public about herbs and herbal medicine and stimulate interest in the various ways herbal medicine might be able to help them.  Everyone is welcome to our programme of activities and we look forward to meeting as many people as possible”.

Dee Atkinson, NIMH PR Director also commented:  “There are many misconceptions about herbal medicine, and Herbal Medicine Week is a chance for ordinary people to find out more about this fascinating subject directly from medical practitioners themselves.  To become a recognised medical herbalist NIMH members have to undergo three years university training coupled with Continuing Professional Development.  NIMH members are (very) expert professionals and Herbal Medicine Week represents a rare opportunity to meet them informally in a variety of settings and learn from their expertise.”

Statutory regulation of herbalists has had unequivocal backing from the House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee as well as two Department of Health Committees. It has been the subject of two public consultations, the last attracting over 6000 responses – by far the majority of which favoured such regulation.

Statutory regulation of this sector will enable regulated herbal practitioners to deliver high quality herbal treatment in conjunction with other health care professionals. The legislation will support safe and professional practice so that the thousands of patients who consult herbalists every year can be assured about the standards of training and practice of the practitioners they see.

Desiree Shelley, President of NIMH said “The Government is to be congratulated on making the right decision to bring in statutory regulation for all those prescribing herbal medicines. Ministers have clearly recognised that this legislation is for patients’ benefit. The National Institute of Medical Herbalists looks forward to working with the Department of Health and Health Professions Council to implement this as soon as possible.”

Link to Dept of Health Consultation Report:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Responsestoconsultations/DH_124337

Anne Milton’s letter to MPs:
Anne Milton letter to MPs

Written ministerial statement on SR:
Written ministerial statement on SR[1]

ENDS