Scientific American reports on a new method to detect coffee adulteration. Coffee, like many high-demand crops, is subject to adulteration, especially as prices rise. Adulteration is the addition of different chemical and/or plant material to a sample, usually intentionally, which is not declared and should not be present. This is a common problem in the […]
I often hear people refer to the disciplines of naturopathy and herbal medicine as an “industry”, and I have to say it grates on me every time. Why? Because we are a profession, not an industry. What is an Industry? According to the Oxford Dictionary of English an “industry” is … “economic activity concerned with […]
Following on from my last post, here is a video on the topic of why Bachelor degree is a more appropriate qualification level than Advanced Diploma, in the disciplines of naturopathy and herbal medicine. This video is based on a presentation I delivered at the 8th International Conference on Herbal Medicine in 2013, and thanks to the […]
For a little over 10 years the minimum qualification in naturopathy and Western herbal medicine in Australia has been the Advanced Diploma. After December 2015 all that changes, but the real question is how and why? In late 2013 I published a commentary piece in the Australian Journal of Herbal Medicine (Volume 25, Issue 4) […]
On 2nd July 2014 the Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council (CS&HISC) announced that as of December 2015 the Advanced Diplomas of Naturopathy, Western Herbal Medicine, Nutritional Medicine and Homoeopathy would be aligned at Bachelor degree level and removed from the Training Package. Why is this fantastic news, and what does this mean for […]
A little over a week ago I delivered a presentation on Adaptogens and Nervines at the NHAA Sydney Chapter Meeting. For those who couldn’t attend, here is a quick summary. Firstly though, a big thanks to the crew who organise the NHAA Sydney Chapter – Joanna Wilson and Jayne Larkins. As with all of the […]
In April I was down in Melbourne for the 8th International Conference on Herbal Medicine. Whilst I was there, VIC Herbs (the Victorian State Chapter of the NHAA) invited me to do a talk to their membership. The topic was “Adaptogens & Nervines – Perfect Pairs”. Well due to popular request I will be delivering […]
Today was the first class of Pharmacognosy & Herbal Pharmacy for Trimester 2 at ACNT. So I thought now is as good a time as any to look at this fascinating herbal science in more detail, and see why it is so important to being a good herbalist. (more…)
My mission is to inspire, educate and help people with herbal and naturopathic medicine. I bring more than 20 years of clinical, academic, and industry experience - and a Masters degree in Herbal Medicines - to this passion.