The History of Birch School of Herbal Medicine

Birch School of Herbal Medicine has evolved over many years.

When we were first established we were one of the very few organisations training professional herbalists in the UK. Although our name may have changed we continue to train our students in Traditional Western Herbal Medicine.

  • 1864 National Association of Medical Herbalists was founded (subsequently becoming NIMH in 1954)

  • In 1930’s the British Herbalists Union was initiated as one of a number of splinter organisations from NAMH

  • 1949 The Faculty of Herbal Medicine was founded under the direction of the  British Herbal Union by Dr James Hewlett-Parsons (1916-1990). It provided students with training in Herbal Medicine in the form of home study followed by clinical and pharmacological experience under the personal supervision of established practitioners.

  • The General Council and Register of Consultant Herbalists (GCRCH) was founded on 10th November 1960 by the directors of the British Herbal Union uniting the Faculty of Herbal Medicine and The Homeopathic Foundation, creating a joint professional register and teaching organisation.

  • The GCRCH also offered training in osteopathy, naturopathy and psychology for a number of years. Naturopathy is now an integral part of the Herbal Medicine course.

  • In 1997, because of its international spread and the equal status of both the Herbal and Homoeopathic training the GCRCH was re-named the International Register of Consultant Herbalists and Homoeopaths.

  • The IRCH ceased to offer Homeopathy training in 2020 placing its focus on its traditional roots of  Western Herbal Medicine.

  • This year 2026, the IRCH will become the BIRCH School of Herbal Medicine to emphasise the unique education that it has offered for the past 77 years.

So…why BIRCH?
Birch is a pioneering tree – we were (and still are) a pioneering
school of Herbal Medicine. One of the first training establishments,
founded by renowned herbalists and naturopaths. We are proud
to be continuing to produce well qualified practitioners.