Health, Sport and Bioscience Graduate Profiles
Ginny - BSc Herbal Medicine
In my teens I developed an interest in Medicine and the science behind Medicine which led me to my first degree in Medical Science at the University of Birmingham. After my studies I developed a particular interest in Herbal Medicine. In my home town of Leicester, I visited one of the oldest and most prestigious herbal practices in the country, Hydes Herbal Clinic and they and several other herbalists that I spoke to advised me of the BSc in Herbal Medicine, then offered by the College of Phytotherapy and awarded by the University of East London. The degree looked perfect, a study of Herbal Medicine totally grounded by a multidisciplinary science foundation; biochemistry, anatomy, botany, physiology, to name a few. The correspondence course structure meant I could work part-time which was perfect for me as I really didn’t want to uproot again and could work around the course. I applied and in 2004 I began my studies. As part of course, I had to complete over 500 tough hours of mandatory clinical practice with real patients in real clinics.
Working with the University’s practitioners provided great inspiration and guidance. I even did some of my clinical training at Hydes. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the patients and practicing Herbal Medicine and I became utterly driven to be a Herbal Practitioner. The great thing about Herbal Medicine is that every treatment I prescribe is tailor made for each patient and is as unique as the individual receiving it. Many patients initially chose Herbal treatment and there are others who come as a final hope when all other treatments have failed. Either way it’s truly rewarding when you are able to provide new hope for those in need. At the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, the course content and the opportunity to work with real patients from all walks of life meant I was fully prepared in the theory and clinical practice of Herbal Medicine to be a great Herbalist. When I graduated in 2007, I was offered a position at Hydes Herbal Clinic – so you could say I’ve come full circle!
