The International Congress on Naturopathic Medicine is coming to London!

Save the date June 30th – July 1st 2017, The ICNM will be in London. The theme will be Global Patient Care; Restoring Health Naturally. This event is being held in collaboration with us, the BNA and GCRN! Please see the report below to find out about the recent ICNM in Barcelona, to inspire you to book your early bird ticket for next year as soon as they are released. We will keep you up to date as soon as these are available from next month.

ICNM 2016

Left to Right: GCRN Council member Kirsten Hartvig, GCRN member Desmond Henley, Richenda Powers, GCRN member Aliyyaa Spring, Honorary BNA Fellow Roger Newman Turner, GCRN Vice President Clare Badrick, GCRN members Olivier Léost and Katerina Vasileiadou, Joanna Thomson.

The ICNM, Barcelona, 2016.
What were you doing on the first weekend of July? I, and a group of fellow UK Naturopaths, spent it in Barcelona at the 3rd International Congress on Naturopathic Medicine. What a fabulous weekend we had! First and foremost, what was most important to me was to see firsthand that I am part of a global Naturopathic community. Sometimes, in practice it can feel as if I am the only Naturopath on the planet (I am sure you must know that feeling), but here I was with 500 other Naturopaths from 50 other countries! It was almost unbelievable to see Naturopaths from Japan, China, India, and all over Europe in one room together. Even Naturopaths from countries I had no idea had even heard of Naturopathy!

Then there were the presentations, 30 in all, on subjects as diverse as the use of medicinal mushrooms, skin disorders, mind-body medicine, sleep, anxiety, the therapeutic relationship, toxins, EMF pollution, autoimmune disease, iris diagnosis and the role of essential oils, plus many more!
Then there were the networking opportunities. I met movers and shakers from the global Naturopathic family who I could talk to on personal level and make friends with, but also who could be good professional contacts for us in the GCRN and for us to continue to develop our profession in the UK.

There were also exhibitors of all kinds, who were selling, demonstrating or showing products and services to help us in our work as 21st century Naturopaths. Really advanced products to scan or screen the patient, herbal, nutritional or mycological products to assist in healing, products to protect from EMF pollution, to name a but a few.

Then of course, there was seeing Barcelona which is a beautiful and vibrant city. Just not quite enough time to explore as the program was so packed, although many delegates had extended their trip to fit in sight seeing time – very sensible!

Overall, the congress offered us inspiration to carry on with our good work, in what can sometimes be a lonely profession. It offered support from those with more experience in certain areas, it gave masses of information on some very diverse subjects and many opportunities for friendship. I will be President of the GCRN when the ICNM comes to London, so I really hope to see you all there.

Clare Badrick
GCRN Vice-President