Ourimbah Students celebrate National Herbal Medicine Week

Friday 8 September 2006

Final year herbal therapies students at the University of Newcastle's Ourimbah campus will be celebrating National Herbal Medicine Week next week (11 to 17 September).

As part of their celebrations they will be taking extra bookings at the Herbal Therapies Training Clinic that is held each Friday at the Ourimbah campus. Consultations are conducted by the final year students under the supervision of an experienced fully accredited herbalist.

The students, whose expertise and qualifications will be in greater demand following a long-awaited report by La Trobe University, will be amongst the few herbal practitioners with a University degree.

La Trobe University's report into the Practice and Regulatory Requirements of Naturopathy and Western Herbal Medicine recommends greater regulation and a minimum educational standard of a bachelor's degree for entry into practice.

Currently few Australian universities offer such degrees and the University of Newcastle's Ourimbah campus is the only one that currently offers a specific herbal medicine degree.

Herbal Therapies Convenor and lecturer, Andrew Pengelly, said the Central Coast was unusually well serviced by herbal practitioners, including some of Australia's most highly respected medical herbalists.

"The students at Ourimbah are well qualified and motivated. The experience they gain from the Herbal Therapies Training Clinic is invaluable.

"Rates are affordable, with generous discounts for students and pensioners. For bookings call 4348 4347.

"While at the campus, visitors might like to see the thriving medicinal herb garden as well as facilities for herbal medicine manufacturing and research laboratories," Andrew said.

Andrew added that the National Herbalists Association of Australia will be conducting a full day of talks and demonstrations as well a guided tours of the medicinal herb garden at the Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens on Saturday 16 September.

Andrew Pengelly is available for media interviews. Phone 4349 4490