BAC members lose battle to use patents
A report to be published soon will announce the battle to use patents by BAC members that have done a patent course, has failed.
BAC members that have done patent courses but not fully herbal training, had hoped to continue to provide patents to their patients via the RCHM's Licentiate/Associate category. However, two obstacles stand in the way of this:
BAC members that have done patent courses but not fully herbal training, had hoped to continue to provide patents to their patients via the RCHM's Licentiate/Associate category. However, two obstacles stand in the way of this:
- The European Union Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD), which bans patents
- The Health Professional Council (HPC) requirements that all herbalists have degree level education
The only way for acupuncturists to continue prescribing herbs to patients is to use individual herbs in a formula construction and to further their education of herbal medicine to bachelor degree with honours or above. The following courses offer this level of education in herbal medicine:
- Middlesex University
- Northern College of Acupuncture
- University of Westminster
