National Institute of Medical Herbalists

Herbal medicine has its roots at the very beginning of human history and enthusiasm for this ancient form of medicine has never been greater than it is today.

The ancient Egyptians around 1500 BC used garlic (Allium sativum), juniper (Juniperus communis) and myrrh (Commiphora molmol) for medicinal purposes. In 1000 AD 'The Leech Book of Bald' reveals that herbs were used to protect people from infections. Bald remains a shadowy figure from the past and his writings suggest a time of superstition. It was believed disease occurred when people were struck with elves' arrows.
The Physicians of Myddfai adopted a much more sensible approach. Impressed with the work of Hippocrates, the Welsh physicians based their own philosophy on good diet, a moderate lifestyle, and simple herbal remedies.

In the Middle Ages in Britain, many people subscribed to the Doctrine of Signatures - that herbs had been 'signed' by God and that their appearance and characteristics revealed clues to their medicinal uses. It was an innocent assumption. Milk thistle (Carduus marianus) was believed to help promote milk flow for nursing mothers, and the yellow flowers of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) were believed to be good for jaundice.
The arrival of the printing press meant herbalists could spread the word about effective herbal medicines. Nicholas Culpeper was particularly noted for incurring the wrath of mainstream physicians and apothecaries alike. He encouraged people to use simple local herbs rather than buy exotic imported remedies to cure their ills. He also translated several of the main medical textbooks of the time, which were of course herbal remedies and treatments, from Latin into English thus making medical treatments available to the ordinary people.

Women have always been central to herbal medicine although some suffered for their art. Some village 'wise women' were condemned as witches. Notable women who helped establish the worth of herbal medicine include: Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, a physician, musician and teacher; Trotula, chairwoman of the Salerno medical school; Maud Grieve, who promoted herbal health during the first world war; and Hilda Leyel, who founded the Herb Society in 1927, and even treated patients while on her death bed.
Botanical medicine became all the rage in nineteenth century America, when Samuel Thompson became disenchanted with the side effects of regular physicians. His gentle 'root and herb' approach to medicine became very popular and was brought to Britain by Albert Coffin where it flourished.

In 1864 the National Association of Medical Herbalists was established in Britain. In 1945 the association was renamed the National Institute of Medical Herbalists.

Today, NIMH-registered western medical herbalists combine historical knowledge with the latest scientific research. Medical herbalists train for at least three years, receive botanical and medical training, and adhere to a strict code of conduct. Training in phytotherapy includes the study of medical sciences, diagnostic and differential diagnostic skills, pharmacy, materia medica, botany, pharmacognosy, and nutrition, in addition to a minimum of 500 hours supervised clinical experience.

Click on Find a Medical Herbalist to find your local Medical Herbalist

Good herbal history reads include

New Green Pharmacy, The Story of Western Herbal Medicine by Barbara Griggs

Culpeper’s Medicine, A practice of Western Holistic Medicine by Graeme Tobyn, MNIMH

The Herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper and the fight for medical freedom by Benjamin Woolley