Ella Birzneck
Encyclopedia
Ella Anson Birzneck, M.H. (1909–1987) was a Russo-Canadian herbalist
and clinician. She is credited with co-founding North America's first "health food store", in New Westminster, British Columbia
during the late 1950s.
(now Liepāja, Latvia
) in 1909 to a medical family. Her uncle was a botanist, professor, and apothecary
; her grandmother, a Latvian of Romani background, was a midwife, nurse, and herbalist.
At the age of 14 she was sent to Canada, where she could receive a higher education than was available in post-World War I Latvia. She lived there at first in a Latvian immigrant neighborhood, with some distant relatives of her family. After receiving a business college degree in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, she moved to a rural part of the province, where she married a local trapper, also of Russian descent. (He was born with the family name of Berezhnik, which was later anglicised to Birzneck.) They settled on a farm, where they raised chickens and captive minks. The Birznecks' four children were born on the Manitoba farm.
Ella Birzneck's interest in natural medicine was renewed in 1942 when her husband, injured in an auto accident, was brought to recovery by the efforts of an herbalist and a chiropractor. The Birznecks travelled to British Columbia, where Ella studied under the naturopath Dr. Herbert Nowell
at Dominion Herbal College
, receiving her Master Herbalist degree. In the 1950s she travelled throughout North America, learning from naturopathic health professionals and osteopaths
. Returning to British Columbia, she opened a practice on the outskirts of Vancouver
, and co-founded the health-food store in New Westminster.
Upon Nowell's death in 1962, Birzneck took his position as professor at the school. She continued to operate a clinical practice into the mid-1980s. She died in 1987, of natural causes.
Her daughter, Bernice Birzneck, is the registrar of Dominion Herbal College, and her son, Dr. Arthur Birzneck, is a licenced chiropractor in Burnaby, British Columbia
as well as being a professor. Some of her more well-known students have included the biologist Dr. Ryan Drum, a noted academic authority on the relationship between modern medicine and botany, and Dr. Bradley Dobos, founder of the Tanaduk Botanical Research Institute.
Herbalist
An herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....
and clinician. She is credited with co-founding North America's first "health food store", in New Westminster, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
during the late 1950s.
Biography
She was born in Libau in the Latvija State of the Russian EmpireRussian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
(now Liepāja, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
) in 1909 to a medical family. Her uncle was a botanist, professor, and apothecary
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
; her grandmother, a Latvian of Romani background, was a midwife, nurse, and herbalist.
At the age of 14 she was sent to Canada, where she could receive a higher education than was available in post-World War I Latvia. She lived there at first in a Latvian immigrant neighborhood, with some distant relatives of her family. After receiving a business college degree in Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, she moved to a rural part of the province, where she married a local trapper, also of Russian descent. (He was born with the family name of Berezhnik, which was later anglicised to Birzneck.) They settled on a farm, where they raised chickens and captive minks. The Birznecks' four children were born on the Manitoba farm.
Ella Birzneck's interest in natural medicine was renewed in 1942 when her husband, injured in an auto accident, was brought to recovery by the efforts of an herbalist and a chiropractor. The Birznecks travelled to British Columbia, where Ella studied under the naturopath Dr. Herbert Nowell
Herbert Nowell
Herbert Nowell, M.D. was a Canadian physician and professor. He is most noted for his philosophy of medicine , his defence of herbalism as a valid medical profession, and his role in the founding of Dominion Herbal College in 1926 out of concern regarding the abandonment of botanical medicine by...
at Dominion Herbal College
Dominion Herbal College
Dominion Herbal College, founded 1926, is a registered and accredited post-secondary school in British Columbia, Canada.-Chartered Herbalist Diploma:...
, receiving her Master Herbalist degree. In the 1950s she travelled throughout North America, learning from naturopathic health professionals and osteopaths
Osteopathy
Osteopathy and osteopathic medicine are often used interchangeably for the philosophy and system of alternative medical practice first proposed by A. T. Still MD, DO in 1874....
. Returning to British Columbia, she opened a practice on the outskirts of Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, and co-founded the health-food store in New Westminster.
Upon Nowell's death in 1962, Birzneck took his position as professor at the school. She continued to operate a clinical practice into the mid-1980s. She died in 1987, of natural causes.
Her daughter, Bernice Birzneck, is the registrar of Dominion Herbal College, and her son, Dr. Arthur Birzneck, is a licenced chiropractor in Burnaby, British Columbia
Burnaby, British Columbia
Burnaby is a city in British Columbia, Canada, located immediately to the east of Vancouver. It is the third-largest city in British Columbia by population, surpassed only by nearby Surrey and Vancouver....
as well as being a professor. Some of her more well-known students have included the biologist Dr. Ryan Drum, a noted academic authority on the relationship between modern medicine and botany, and Dr. Bradley Dobos, founder of the Tanaduk Botanical Research Institute.
External links
- Dominion Herbal College, Burnaby, British Columbia (Location of future Web site; not yet constructed)
- http://www.ryandrum.com