 What
is Herbal Medicine?
It is the use of plant remedies in the treatment of disease. The whole
plant or specific parts are used in preparing herbal medicines to
treat illness and improve health. The use of herbs to treat and heal
is one of the earliest and oldest forms of medicine known to man and
brings with it centuries old traditions. This is now linked to modern
scientific knowledge so that now we understand more of how and why
herbs do work. Every society in the world has used herbal medicine
and it is still the most commonly used method of treatment world-wide.
Because the plant medicines we use are naturally balanced, they
are easily absorbed by the body and rarely cause unwanted side–
effects. Please note that this is not the same as the standardised
extracts of herbs that are found in many commercial preparations.
Why consult a Medical Herbalist?
With articles in the press and magazines and self-help books, with
herbs readily available in
supermarkets and health stores, many people feel that there is enough
information to be able to treat themselves with herbal remedies.
Indeed, sometimes the volume of information is
overwhelming and confusing!
The benefits of seeing a professionally qualified medical herbalist
include:
- Unique, individual blends of herbs are prepared for each patient
because no two patients are alike even with the same illness!
We prescribe herbs in therapeutic doses which can vary from person
to person.
- Any herbal treatment from a qualified herbalist takes account
of medicines you are already taking. We know how herbs work and
interact with prescription medicines.
- As responsible and ethical health professionals, medical herbalists
are always happy to work with your doctor. We also know when to
treat an illness and when to refer to your doctor
Can Herbal Medicine be used at the same
time as other treatments?
Most other therapies (including acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic,
aromatherapy,
reflexology) often work well together and complement each other.
If you are already being treated with a particular complementary
therapy and are not sure whether western herbal medicine would be
suitable for you, ring me to discuss before making an appointment.
Herbal medicine is also a very effective treatment in conjunction
with nutritional therapy. For a local, professionally qualified
nutritional therapist, go to www.nutritionnaturally.co.uk.
 Can
Herbal Medicine be used at the same time as taking prescription
medicines?
If you are taking prescription medicines, you should always take
professional advice from a qualified medical herbalist before using
herbal medicine.
Whilst many herbs can safely be taken alongside prescription medicines,
some herbs can affect how your medication works—they may increase
the effects of any medication, or they may reduce their effectiveness.
As part of our training, we know and understand how herbs can interact
with other medicines. If you are on medication, this should always
be discussed with the herbalist during your consultation.
What Conditions can a Medical Herbalist treat?
A medical herbalist can treat many of the conditions that you would
take to your doctor. We work in a holistic way, which means that
we treat not only the symptoms, but also look for and treat the
underlying cause of your health problem. This involves taking account
of your overall health—not just the specific problem.
Herbs can be used very successfully to treat or manage many chronic,
long-term illnesses. It is particularly suitable for children. The
list below is not exhaustive, but gives an idea of the range of
problems that herbal medicine can help:
SKIN PROBLEMS such as eczema, acne, rosacea, psoriasis……..
DIGESTIVE DISORDERS such as ulcers, indigestion,
heartburn, reflux, hiatus hernia,
colitis, irritable bowel, inflammatory bowel disease, haemorrhoids,
liver problems, gallbladder disease…….
WOMENS’ PROBLEMS such as PMS, painful periods,
menopausal problems, fibroids,
endometriosis, cystitis……
RESPIRATORY DISORDERS such as catarrh, sinusitis,
ear infections, coughs and bronchitis, allergic responses such as
hayfever and asthma……….
JOINT & MUSCLE PROBLEMS such as rheumatoid
arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout,
ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia……………
HEART & CIRCULATORY DISEASES such as angina,
high blood pressure, varicose veins, poor circulation
OTHER PROBLEMS such as Chronic Fatigue syndrome,
stress, anxiety, depression,
migraines and headaches, sleep problems, prostate problems ……………..
If in doubt about whether herbal medicine can help you, ring me
and I am happy to discuss whether herbal medicine would be suitable.
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