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My qualifications

MSc with distinction in Herbal Medicine
BSc (1st class) in Herbal Medicine
BA Fine Art (specialising in painting)
Bach Flowers 
PTTLS - Teaching Qualification
A-levels: Maths, Biology, Chemisty, Art and General Studies

Publications: West, V. & Denham, A. (2017). The clinical reasoning of Western herbal practitioners: A qualitative feasibility study. The Journal of Herbal Medicine, 8, pp. 52-61

I was awarded The Phyto Products Award for Pharmacology for the year 2008-9 by the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (N.I.M.H.). I won my award for work in which I analysed the role and mechanisms of action of phytoestrogens (plant oestrogens found in plants such as Red Clover and Soya) in breast cancer.

 My experience and training

I am experienced medical herbalist holding an MSc with distinction, and a first class BSc(hons) degree in herbal medicine. I have experience supporting people with a wide range of health conditions. I teach Research Methods for Heartwood (training herbal students) and I am a writer for the Advanced Herbal Medicine Course (aimed at educating herbal practitioners and healthcare practitioners) - Herbal Academy of New England. 

I am an experienced lecturer and course developer. I am a registered Member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (founded in 1864, the oldest professional organisation in the U.K. representing medical herbalists).

As a Medical Herbalist, I am trained in the same diagnostic skills as orthodox doctors, but take a more holistic approach to illness. My degree training involved the study of anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, clinical diagnosis, pathology, physiology, nutrition and clinical training.

My clinical training involved 500 hours in which I conducted consultations under the supervision of a clinical tutor (an experienced herbalist). To achieve my degree I needed to demonstrate to a medical doctor and a herbalist (the President of N.I.M.H.) that I could diagnose illnesses, perform clinical examinations, create a prescription protocol, and use herbal medicines both effectively and safely.