European Conference

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

it is my firm belief that one of the ways, if not the best one, to deal with

the empasse we are experiencing in Europe at the moment is to improve our

communication skills. The UK represents a very peculiar position in Europe,

under many aspects, in terms of legislation, in terms of tradition and

experience of its practitioners, and in terms of public support for herbal

medicine.

It is not by chance, I believe, that the EHPA membership is almost

exclusively north-European. Notwithstanding the centuries of tradition in

herbal medicine, Italy, Spain and other southern countries do not have a

professional body of herbalists, and are quite oblivious of many of the

issues we consider of paramount importance.

Even if isolation seems a comfortable option, in the long term it will not

work, since one day or another we will have to face European harmonised

legislation; in fact IMO it is fundamental to open up a dialogue with those

professionals (mainly MDs) that in other countries do deal with herbs, in

order to clarify respective positions and to let them know the high degree

of professionalisation that herbalism has reached in the UK (it might sound

strange, but really they have no idea whatsoever).

In the last few months I have probed the Italian environment to see whether

there was space and interest in organising a conference where

representatives from our tradition of herbalism could interact, discuss and

exchange opinions and ideas with other professionals from Europe. In fact I

have found that the interest runs high, and that there are many

organisations that would like to participate to this sort of discussion,

both from parallel and divergent positions. I have found that the Milan

Expo, the largest event in herbal and natural pharmacy in Italy, is

interested and willing to host and organise a conference next year.

Thus, this is an open letter to MNIMH, EHPA, Middlesex, and any individuals

or associations interested. I am trying to put down a list of speakers and

subjects, in order to present a project to Expo Milan. Please contact me;

the likely main subjects will obviously be: legislation, standards of

education, safety and quality of herbs and practitioners, but I await

suggestions.

I truly believe this could be an important opportunity to build links and

reaffirm the importance of our knowledge, tradition and profession.

Sincerely,

Marco Valussi

marcobabi@...

[Guest guest]

Dear Marco, If lack of understanding of the unique position etc. of

herbalists in this country is a real problem then perhaps subjects to be

covered should also include herbalists talking about how they work, how they

use their herbs and how that approach differs from orthodoxy. Also to

encourage herbalists to attend such a conference so there are sufficient in

attendance for other professionsals to have an eyeball to eyeball contact

during the conference, so to speak. Sounds like a very good idea to me if it

healps to increase understanding. Keep plugging away. .

European Conference

> Dear friends,

> it is my firm belief that one of the ways, if not the best one, to deal

with

> the empasse we are experiencing in Europe at the moment is to improve our

> communication skills. The UK represents a very peculiar position in

Europe,

> under many aspects, in terms of legislation, in terms of tradition and

> experience of its practitioners, and in terms of public support for herbal

> medicine.

> It is not by chance, I believe, that the EHPA membership is almost

> exclusively north-European. Notwithstanding the centuries of tradition in

> herbal medicine, Italy, Spain and other southern countries do not have a

> professional body of herbalists, and are quite oblivious of many of the

> issues we consider of paramount importance.

> Even if isolation seems a comfortable option, in the long term it will not

> work, since one day or another we will have to face European harmonised

> legislation; in fact IMO it is fundamental to open up a dialogue with

those

> professionals (mainly MDs) that in other countries do deal with herbs, in

> order to clarify respective positions and to let them know the high degree

> of professionalisation that herbalism has reached in the UK (it might

sound

> strange, but really they have no idea whatsoever).

> In the last few months I have probed the Italian environment to see

whether

> there was space and interest in organising a conference where

> representatives from our tradition of herbalism could interact, discuss

and

> exchange opinions and ideas with other professionals from Europe. In fact

I

> have found that the interest runs high, and that there are many

> organisations that would like to participate to this sort of discussion,

> both from parallel and divergent positions. I have found that the Milan

> Expo, the largest event in herbal and natural pharmacy in Italy, is

> interested and willing to host and organise a conference next year.

> Thus, this is an open letter to MNIMH, EHPA, Middlesex, and any

individuals

> or associations interested. I am trying to put down a list of speakers

and

> subjects, in order to present a project to Expo Milan. Please contact me;

> the likely main subjects will obviously be: legislation, standards of

> education, safety and quality of herbs and practitioners, but I await

> suggestions.

> I truly believe this could be an important opportunity to build links and

> reaffirm the importance of our knowledge, tradition and profession.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Marco Valussi

> marcobabi@...

>

>

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> Graham White, MNIMH

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