Welcome
Whether you are a student new to herbalism, an experienced herbalist looking to add skills sets to your practice, or a professional herbalist looking to advance your skills with continuing education, we have courses, programs, and seminars that will help you meet your goals.
Paul Bergner
Medical Herbalist, Clinical Nutritionist
Founder and Director of the North American Institute for Medical Herbalism
Paul has studied and practiced natural medicine since 1973, with formal studies in naturopathy, medical herbalism, clinical nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, flower essences, yoga therapy, and bodywork, including undergraduate studies in pre-medicine and psychology, and 50 semester hours of doctoral level medical studies at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. He has edited the Medical Herbalism Journal since its founding in 1989, and has written seven books on medical herbalism, nutrition, Chinese medicine, ethnobotany, and naturopathic medicine. He has trained hundreds of certified clinical herbalists over his nearly 40 year teaching career...
What is Vitalism?
Vitalism in healing is a clinical strategy based on the principle that Life, Nature, and the Great Spirit from which they arise are fully present in all the tissues of the body, and also in the psyche, the spiritual heart, and the soul, sustaining life and health, providing inspiration and momentum for personal evolution on all levels, and for the fulfillment of the highest purpose in social and spiritual life. Vitalist practitioners employ clinical strategies and methods which support this life power through encouragement of nourishment, digestion, rest, and appropriate activity, identification of purpose in personal life, connection with nature, an active spiritual life, identification and removal of obstacles to cure on all levels, and avoidance of methods which suppress or distort life processes.
The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism curriculum is firmly based on vitalist principles throughout every course, and it is the basis of the clinical work in all our teaching clinics and seminars...
Sustaining the Vitalist Tradition of Medical Herbalism
