The IRCH register and distance learning course was

originally established in 1960 and has been successfully

producing qualified practitioners of Herbal Medicine ever

since. It is recognised as a course of excellence by the

Complementary Medical Association (CMA). The CMA

represents the interests in excess of 10,000 practitioners

including Medical Herbalists, and is now the largest multi-

The IRCH distance learning course is carefully structured to enable students to fit

study in and around the everyday pressures of living. It is however, a course that

demands commitment and a desire to reach the high standards set by the faculty

staff. The course is divided into five modules with the lessons within each

supplemented by seminars and a summer school. The annual conference is an

opportunity to meet students from all modules, practising herbalists, and take

The IRCH course is much more than theory.  Clinical skills seminars give

students the opportunity to learn about herbal medicine first hand from our

experienced practitioners including case taking, examination techniques and

diagnostic methods.  A recognised amount of clinical training must also be

undertaken at our training clinics that are situated around the country. This is on

a supervised one-to-one basis giving the student confidence to develop their own

Throughout the course, students are continually assessed and examinations are

taken with the ongoing support of tutors. All of the IRCH tutors are fully qualified

as Medical Herbalists (many of them practising) as well as experts in their

particular field.  Our tutors include nurses, doctors, scientists as well as

academics, many of whom teach in universities.  External tutors are used ad-hoc

for specialised areas of training. Students also have a mentor that is available to

guide and support those with personal problems as well as issues around their

If you are interested in finding out more about the IRCH and it’s

unique course please contact us for a full prospectus

The International Register of Consultant Herbalists (IRCH) is a Non-Profit

Register of Herbalists and College training students, specialising in Traditional

Medicine. The IRCH offers an accredited distance learning course supported by

seminars and clinical training. It is the last of its kind now in Cornwall and is

working in collaboration with Camborne College with its own University degree

course in holistic therapy.

This traditional approach uses the individuality of the patient as the key to the

appropriate therapy, rather than the “disease model” approach adopted by

practitioners devoted to the use of unnatural laboratory products.

Despite recent concern over the imposition of European regulations relating to

manufactured herbal products, traditionally trained practitioners will not be

affected. A book “Decoding Myth-Information” is shortly to be published,

clarifying the confusion on this subject, created by those untrained in the

traditional approach and therefore ill-prepared to meet the challenge of

changing legislation.

Marilyn Scott MIRCH has been the voluntary company secretary serving the

council since 2007 and can be contacted via the contact us page of this website.

If you are seeking the help or advice of a therapist or would like training in this

safe and effective form of traditional natural medicine, please do not hesitate to

get in touch.