I am the Course Leader for the Professional Course in Herbal Medicine, Heartwood Education. I also teach Research Methods and Ethics. I hold an MSc in Herbal Medicine (Research) from the University of Central Lancashire, and have over 10 years’ experience as a Consultant Medical Herbalist supporting people with a wide range of health problems. My approach is very supportive and holistic, taking into account the person as a whole, emphasising the individual and the importance of tailoring treatment to suit each person's needs. 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. 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 my dissertation 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.