Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA)

Canadian practitioners of herbal medicine are finally united.  History was made on February 19 & 20^th 2005 when the Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA) was officially formed in Vancouver BC.

Prior to the formation of the CCHA in February, the process was set in motion during meetings that took place in March, August, and November of 2004 in Calgary and Toronto.  These preliminary meetings were attended by herbalists from across the country that agreed upon the need for a cohesive national voice for herbal practitioners.  Dedicated time and effort was given during these meetings to sift through debates surrounding issues pertaining to our profession, Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) regulations, and the future of herbal medicine in Canada.  The cumulative results of these meetings helped form the foundation of the CCHA.

CCHA Mission Statement

The Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA) has been created to unify, promote and serve herbal practitioners through active communication with government, the public, and between all herbalist associations in Canada.

The CCHA Mandate

1. To establish herbalists as experts on herbs in Canada.
2. The CCHA creates and maintains a non profit organization of representatives of associations that represent herbal practitioners.
3. To facilitate unity among associations of herbal practitioners and to ensure the inclusion of herbal practitioners from different traditions.
4. The CCHA provides a forum to further the practice of herbal medicine by herbal practitioners in Canada.
5. The CCHA guides the various associations in setting standards (education, practice, ethics, etc.) and responds to the inquiries of academia, media, and agencies, and to collectively further the aims and goals of herbalism in Canada.
6. The CCHA provides national representation of member associations to the provincial and federal governments in discussion of any and all legislation affecting herbal practitioners and legislation of national health products as it affects herbal practitioners.
7. To facilitate meetings of representatives of associations that represent herbal practitioners.
8. The CCHA council operates by 100% consensus to foster trust and unity.

Council Members

President ~ 1 year term: Michael Vertolli,  Ontario Herbalists Association

Vice  President West ~ 2 year term:  Gillian, Leverkus CHAofBC

Vice  President East ~ 3 year term: Valérie Lanctôt-Bédard,  Guilde des herboristes du Québec

Secretary/Treasurer (term undecided):  Capucine Chartrand,  Guilde des herboristes du Québec

Directors at large:

Each member association may have up to two voting members present at all council meetings.  Additional attendees will be considered observers and will not have voting authority.

Member associations that wish to be represented by the CCHA must have standards of practice and grievance procedures such as:

• Code of Ethics
• Code of Practice
• Scope of Practice
• Educational Standards
• Disciplinary Procedures

It is the responsibility of each member association to define and implement specific parameters for their association. This includes but is not exclusive to the requirements listed above. Council expects that all member associations meet these requirements by June 1, 2006.

The CCHA respects the definition of an herbal practitioner (and their qualifications) as determined by each member association, likewise, member associations support the definition of an herbal practitioner as defined by the Council. Council formed the following definition of an herbal practitioner with consideration given to the inclusion of herbal practitioners from different traditions and avenues of learning, whether academic, apprenticeship or otherwise.

An herbal practitioner is an individual trained in the practice of herbal medicine who:

• is trained in the therapeutic use of crude botanical medicines; and
• primarily uses traditional preparations* of crude botanical material; and
• is qualified** and competent to take this responsibility and be held accountable for their recommendations

* Traditional preparations include, but are not limited to: tinctures, teas, capsules, infusions, decoctions, syrups, plasters, poultices, oils, liniments,  ointments,   fomentations, salves, etc.

**  Appropriate qualification could include formal training, self-study, apprenticeship model and others. 

The primary task of the CCHA at this time is to act as an advisory body to the NHPD, and to be pro-active in response to regulatory issues set forth by them.  The definition of "natural health practitioner" will be coming under review by the NHPD in the near future.  We need to ensure that herbal practitioners are officially recognized and included in this definition.  According to current regulations, "natural health practitioners" are exempt from manufacturing laws when compounding remedies for clients based on professional consultation.  In addition to compounding, many herbal practitioners produce the herbal medicines used in their practice.  The CCHA must negotiate with the NHPD to ensure that these defining features of the practice of herbal medicine be maintained, exempt from manufacturing laws that would otherwise cripple our profession.   The review of Bill C 420 is another current item of concern to the CCHA.

In addition to its involvement with standards and regulatory issues, the CCHA will take an active role in promoting the practice of herbal medicine, and herbalism in general, to Canadians.  Potential avenues for doing so could include, collaboration with the Canadian Journal of Herbal Medicine, developing links with the media, and the coordination of national herbal events.

Gillian Leverkus and Michael Vertolli have been nominated to make an official presentation to the federal government in June announcing the formation of the CCHA and our position regarding NHPD regulations.  Both have valuable history and experience in dealing with the NHPD.

The next CCHA meeting will take place in Halifax, NS on July 21 & 22^nd 2005.

The CCHA is calling for the support of all members of its member associations, practitioners and otherwise, during these precarious times.  We face the very real threat of losing the practice of herbal medicine in Canada; we also have great potential to firmly root ourselves in the soil of health care in this country.

Sincerely,

Savayda Jarone

On behalf of the CCHA

For more information on the CCHA contact Savayda Jarone- wildoats@ns.sympatico.ca