Professional Associations

Who is collaborating?

About Herbal Professional Associations

Below are the herbal practitioner professional associations (PAs) based in UK and Ireland. Most PAs have an online directory of their members so you can find other herbalists who are in your area. Membership of professional associations is important for herbal practitioners as it provides support and protection for herbalists. It also ensures that standards are maintained in the herbal profession.

If you are a professional herbalist, why don’t you join us?

College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy

CPP members’ practices are wholly focused on herbal medicine or phytotherapy. The CPP’s mission is to be an exemplar for this practice, as a strong and effective therapeutic discipline in its own right and as a significant part of the healthcare spectrum.

Unified Register of Herbal Practitioners

The URHP is a small and friendly professional association and register of qualified herbal practitioners. It is unique in that it embraces the diversity of the herbal world, with members trained in different herbal traditions: Western Herbal Medicine, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tibetan Medicine and Unani Tibb.

Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine

The RCHM was set up in 1987 to regulate the practice of Chinese Herbal Medicine in the UK and sets and maintains high standards. The register has over 450 members.

National Institute of Medical Herbalists

The National Institute of Medical Herbalists promotes the benefits, the efficacy and the safe use of herbal medicine. It ensured that its member herbal medicine practitioners maintain high standards of training and professional conduct. The Institute has a long and illustrious history. It was first established as the National Association of Medical Herbalists in 1864.

Irish Register of Herbalists

The IRH is a professional body for fully trained, safe and competent herbalists who meet their qualification threshold and who accept the high standards of ethics, stringent criteria and professional conduct the Register demands. It is an all-Ireland body representing herbalists throughout the 32 counties.

Association of Master Herbalists (AMH)

This Association has from the beginning, had a strong affinity to the North American eclectic school, notably Dr John R Christopher who was the founder of the School of Natural Healing.

Ayurvedic Professionals Association (APA)

APA is a voluntary register for Ayurvedic Professionals in the UK established in 2005. The APA is run by a voluntary committee elected by members. The APA are here to support enthusiastic individuals with a passion for Ayurveda who can help grow the interest in and take Ayurveda to the next level.

Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ATCM)

The Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture UK (ATCM) is a self-regulated professional organisation founded in 1994 by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioners in the UK.

British Association of Accredited Ayurvedic Practitioners (BAAAP)

The British Association of Accredited Ayurvedic Practitioners (BAAAP) was established in 1999 as the professional affiliate of the British Ayurvedic Medical Council (BAMC) in order to promote Ayurveda in the west and to overcome regulatory restrictions and cultural prejudices that inhibit its integration within mainstream health care provision in the UK and elsewhere in Europe.

Association of Chinese Herbalists in Ireland

Our mission is to provide excellence, high quality and safe practice of Chinese herbalism in Ireland. Our association is committed to establishing and maintaining the highest standards in professional training for medical herbalists who use the traditions of Chinese herbalism. We support best practice and all our members comply with the codes of ethics and best practice of this association.

Professional Register of Traditional Chinese Medicine

The PRTCM is an Irish-based professional body founded in 1983 to promote and protect the professional interests and medical standards of fully qualified practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine throughout Ireland and in the UK, thereby to foster the highest quality of TCM health-care for the public.

Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists

The Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists is a professional organisation committed to placing the practice of herbal medicine within an integrative approach to healthcare. Our practice is built on traditional knowledge supported by modern science. We are committed to developing research to support evidence of best practice.

Irish Register of Chinese Medical Herbalism (IRCMH)

IRCMH members have a minimum of 2 years post graduate study in Chinese herbal medicine and are graduates from colleges whose curricula meet the high standards deemed necessary for membership.

International Register of Consultant Herbalists

he IRCH Register and herbalist training course were originally established in 1960. The IRCH has been successfully producing qualified practitioners of herbal medicine ever since.

Foundation for Insight Herbalism

The Foundation for Insight Herbalism is a professional body of herbalists practising Insight Herbalism, a form of practice where the emphasis is on supporting clients and groups in understanding themselves and their health through direct experiences of plants. Within this model, herbs are not ‘prescribed’, rather they are introduced and the client is given the support they need to integrate the plant, its teachings and the physiological changes it can help support, into their lives.

British Association of Traditional Tibetan Medicine

BATTM is a registered association representing Tibetan medicine in the UK.

About other Professional Associations

Below are other professional associations that have herbal practitioners as members but are not specifically for Professional Herbalists.

Association of Naturopathic Practitioners

The ANP is a professional association representing Naturopathic Therapists. Naturopathy is based on principles, so one can find a Naturopathic Therapist practising as a Nutritional Therapist, Herbalist, Acupuncturist, or Homeopath. We are committed to developing research to support evidence of best practice.

Is your professional association not listed? Get in touch and get them involved!