Draft letters are available for you to send to your MP. A leaflet is also available to explain the campaign in more detail.

Desiree Shelley
President of NIMH

Letter for patients to send to their MP

NIMH is also urging support for the ANH campaign for Statutory Regulation.

Please join us:

SR Campaign please click and act

More on the ANH campaign for SR

Letter sent to Dr Dan Poulter Under Secretary of State for Health

Draft letters are available for you to send to your MP. A leaflet is also available to explain the campaign in more detail.

Desiree Shelley
President of NIMH

Letter for patients to send to their MP

Members will be saddened and shocked to learn that Isobel Gurrie died in a tragic accident at her home in Tisbury on January 11th.

Isobel’s original career was in accountancy and she completed her course at the College of Phytotherapy whilst working full-time in chambers in Lincolns Inn, where she had worked for many years. She graduated in 2005 and was a NIMH member since that time.

Isobel initially worked part-time as a herbalist, sharing a small room in Harley Street on a one day a week basis, and also working from home. However, following the long illness and premature death of her beloved husband, Tom, in 2008, she had to re-evaluate her life which resulted in her taking a break from herbal practice. She was faced with many difficulties, but with her characteristic courage and resilience she gradually rebuilt her life.

It was only in September 2012 that Isobel, with the help of her new partner Graham, was finally able to realise her dream of opening a shop and practice in Tisbury – Old Sarum Herbs. In a very short time she had established many friendships, loyal customers and patients in the surrounding area, as well as becoming a vibrant addition to the village high street.

Those of us who were lucky enough to be Isobel’s friend will know that she was always there for you, whether this was to share a personal issue or discuss treatment options for patients. She had a prodigious memory and a wealth of knowledge which she was always willing to share. We will remember her with a glass of her favourite wine, laughing and sharing life’s experiences in her typical magnanimous fashion. She is hugely missed and our thoughts are with her family and Graham at this time.

The funeral is taking place at noon on 19th February at Mortlake Crematorium.

In advance of this meeting all the EHTPA organisations were asked to collate some hard facts and figures on Echinacea prescribed to the under 12s to present to the MHRA.

NIMH practitioner Survey:

1.  How many under 12’s have you ever prescribed Echinacea to?

2.  Of this number, how many adverse reactions did you have?

Survey Results

114 NIMH Members responded, the number of under 12s prescribed Echinacea totaled 20,006 patients, out of which a total of 3 minor reactions were reported by practitioners.

Adverse Events Reported:

1.    Skin rash attributed to a heat rash as in Turkey at the time
2.    Child complained of nausea after drinking tincture in water
3.    Child had temporarily increased flatulence

None of these adverse events warranted a Yellow Card report due to the lack of severity of reaction and in all cases the symptoms fully resolved.

Yellow Card Reports
Since the initiation of the Yellow Card Scheme in 1994, there are no reports of Echinacea causing adverse events in the under 12s.
[see yellow card reports] published in the NIMH Journal of Herbal Medicine http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221080331100004

The research paper MHRA has specifically referred to was published in 2002, it was not a controlled study and detailed only five adverse reactions in adults over a range of conditions the adults were already prone to, including eczema, asthma and hayfever.  In the context of a full consultation with a trained herbalist, a patient will be screened for atopy, asthma, and allergic tendencies.

Ally Broughton BSc MSc MNIMH
[Yellow card co-ordinator, monitor of adverse events reported by NIMH practitioners]

ALSO PLEASE SEE:

Echinacea report from Phil Rasmussen MNIMH (in New Zealand)

http://www.naturalproductsonline.co.uk/industry-news/herbals-expert-presents-mhra-with-echinacea-safety-file/

Commenting on the announcement NIMH pointed towards the old nature of the data the announcement was based upon (a monograph from 2008 and a research paper from 2002), and asks why the MHRA is making this decision now when no reports of any allergic reactions have been received in the intervening years.  NIMH also stresses the limited scope of the data and its inconclusive character (‘specific risk in children over 1 year of age is not documented’ – which means there is no data on any specific risk when Echinacea is used by children over the age of one).

The one research paper MHRA has referred to was published in 2002, was not a controlled study, and detailed only five adverse reactions in adults over a range of conditions the adults were already prone to – including eczema, asthma and hayfever.  In the context of a proper consultation with a trained herbalist, a patient will be screened for atopy, asthma, and allergic tendencies.

Therefore NIMH believes it is irresponsible of the MHRA to make an announcement that has caused sensationalist reporting in the media, especially when the MHRA has indicated that ‘this is not a serious safety issue’ and that ‘parents should not worry if they have given Echinacea to children under 12 in the past’.

NIMH does not agree with the MHRA interpretation of the situation on the occasional minor adverse reactions possibly caused by Echinacea.

NIMH also points out that this announcement is related to OTC (over the counter) sale of herbal products.  NIMH members are trained medical herbalists and have been working with the Dept of Health towards Statutory Regulation of practitioners which is due to be implemented next year. It is important that the MHRA emphasises to the public the distinction between buying OTC remedies and consulting a qualified practitioner.

MHRA announcement:  http://www.mhra.gov.uk/NewsCentre/Pressreleases/CON180627

Notes for Editors

The National Institute of Medical Herbalists is the UK’s leading professional body representing herbal medicine practitioners.

First established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864, today the National Institute of Medical Herbalists has more than 700 members across the UK and beyond.

The Institute promotes the benefits of herbal medicine and oversees the provision of the best patient care through the work of its members.

NIMH members undergo a lengthy training programme before they can register as qualified medical herbalists. Practitioners train for at least three years and adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Practice before they can gain MNIMH or FNIMH after their name. Recently qualified practitioners will have taken a BSc in Phytotherapy (herbal medicine). All NIMH-registered herbalists are fully insured, and follow a strict code of conduct.

NIMH-registered medical herbalists are trained in orthodox diagnostic skills, and will work with the patient and if needed other health care providers to provide the best holistic health care for the individual. Herbalists treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions and frequently work in collaboration with GPs and consultants to achieve the best combination of treatments for individual patients.

NIMH can be contacted at:
Clover House, James Court, South Street, EX1 1EE
Tel: +44 (0) 1392 426022
Fax: +44 (0) 1392 498963
E-mail: info@nimh.org.uk :

at Crewe Hall Hotel, Cheshire.

Conference brochure:  2012 conference brochure-1

More information: http://www.nimh-conference.com/index.html

Above:  Crewe Hall Hotel in Cheshire, venue of this year’s NIMH Conference.

TIME TABLE FOR NIMH CONFERENCE 2012

THURSDAY 18th October

1.00pm    Council Meeting

6.00pm    NIMH Registration (until 9pm)

FRIDAY 19th October

8.00am    NIMH Registration

10.00am    Formal opening of the 148th Annual Conference

10.30am    Presidential Address by Desiree Shelley, MNIMH

11.00am    Break for refreshments

11.30am    Business Session of the AGM begins

12.30pm    Break for Lunch

1.45pm    Business session resumes

4.00pm    Meeting ends

4.00 – 4.30pm    Break for refreshments

4.30 – 5.30pm    The Hein Zeylstra Memorial Lecture – ‘Illness as a failure of adaptation’
Julian Barker MNIMH

6.00 – 6.45pm    New Members drinks reception with Council and NIMH members

8.00 – 11.00pm    Quiz Night

SATURDAY 20th October

8.00am    NIMH Registration

9.30am    Keynote Lecture – ‘The role of nutrition in chronic non-infectious illness’
Michael Ash BSc, DO, ND, F.DipION

10.30am    Break for refreshments

11.00am    Keynote Lecture – ‘Gut and psychology/Gut and physiology syndrome’
Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride

1.00pm    Lunch

2.00-2.30pm    The Journal of Herbal Medicine – Barbara Pendry MNIMH

2.30 – 5.30pm    Workshops (delegates can choose on the day to attend 3 of the 50 minute workshops):

Michael Ash & Antony Haynes – ‘Key nutrients for the Triage effect’
Sarah Firnberg MNIMH – ‘The Management of insulin resistance in chronic disease’

Peter Conway FNIMH – ‘Complexity & Chronicity: it is time for herbs to return to centre stage’

Dee Atkinson MNIMH – ‘The tonic prescribing principle in modern practice’

Olivia Corcoran – ‘From research to publishable paper’

Katherine Bellchambers-Wilson MNIMH – ‘Managing pain in herbal practice’

7.30pm    Annual Conference Buffet Dinner and Ceilidh

ASPECTS OF HERBAL PRACTICE

REGULATION, RESEARCH & REVIEW
1 0 t h  N o v e m b e r 2012

For full details please click on link below.

EHTPA_Aspects_of_Herbal_Practice_Conference_flyer

Check events for the rest of the week on our calendar (right hand column).

Full calendar can be seen in the right hand column of our Events page.

During the week medical herbalists all over Great Britain will be leading herbal walks, holding open days, carrying out plant surveys, giving talks, explaining how herbal medicines are made, demonstrating the therapeutic properties of plants, campaigning for regulation of herbalists, answering questions about herbal medicine, and much much more.

A full calendar of over 80 events can be found on our Events page in the right-hand column.

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.