About Us

In 1989, The North American Institute of Medical Herbalism was founded by Paul Bergner in Portland, Oregon. NAIMH moved to Boulder in 1995, before relocating back to Portland in 2012.

Paul Bergner has been teaching natural medicine since 1973, medical level herbalism since 1989, and mentoring students in teaching clinics continuously since 1996.

Paul has formal training in naturopathy, medical herbalism, clinical nutrition, traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, flower essences, yoga therapy and bodywork, as well as undergraduate studies in pre-medicine and psychology, and 50 semester hours of doctoral level medical studies at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. Through Paul's extensive studies he has brought a renewed awareness of the Thomsonian/Physiomedical school of medical level herbalism, which has a tradition of clinical practice both in North America and the United Kingdom lasting for almost 200 years, up to the present.

The Physiomedicalists were physicians who used herbs, and used them completely within the Vitalist paradigm. 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. 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.

Read a letter from Paul

From the Director