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Donald A. Purves
BSc MNIMH
Experience
I trained with The School of Herbal Medicine/Phytotherapy in the 1980’s. In 1989 I gained Membership of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (MNIMH) and I have been in practice as a Herbalist in Leeds since then. I joined The Healing Clinic, York in 2000. I have supervised Student Training Clinics in Herbal Medicine in Preston, Glasgow and Lincoln at various times since 1999. In 2003, I gained an MSc in Herbal Medicine from the Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, the first MSc programme in the Western Hemisphere. I have been a “mentor” for several newly qualified Herbalists on the NIMH New Member’s Scheme. I am an active attender of Herbal conferences and workshops, particularly on Traditional Herbal practice.
Currently I am a Lecturer in Herbal Medicine at University of Lincoln where I teach Herbal Materia Medica and Clinic to undergraduates of the BSC(Hons) Herbal Medicine programme accredited by the European Herbal Practitioner’s Association (EHPA), the umbrella organisation for ALL Herbalist registers in Europe, from whichever tradition.
Background and Philosophy
Herbalists are one corner of a therapeutic triangle of patient, plant and practitioner. I believe the dynamic interaction of all three is essential for true herbal healing to take place. Herbalists seek to know people, know plants and introduce them to each other for the benefit of the sick.
 Although I am a Biology graduate and have laboratory experience in Clinical Chemistry, I do not believe that modern biochemistry and pharmacology offer the only explanation of how medicinal herbs work on the human body. I have a deep respect for the Earth and for all the creatures, animal, plant and mineral, who make it up. I also honour all those traditional human ways of thinking, doing and being which respect the Earth and are sustainable. My herbal ancestors had complex and sophisticated ways of matching people with plants.
Approach to Treatment
As a modern Herbalist, I make a judgement of a patient’s imbalances according to rigorous clinical questioning, physical examination and tongue and pulse diagnosis, and in the light of an eclectic mix of Physiomedical, Humoural, TCM and Biomedical principles. I have been known to use urinalysis, astrology and iridology too. Expect to be thoroughly questioned but really listened to when you visit me for a consultation!
From that assessment, I make up a tailor-made prescription which is a mixture of herbs, usually tinctures but sometimes teas. I assess diet and make suggestions for appropriate improvement. A review of lifestyle, work patterns, exercise and leisure can often be fruitful in highlighting ways in which you as the patient can help to shift the causes and worsening factors for their condition.
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