What is Herbal Medicine?
Herbal medicine is the use of plant remedies (ointments,
oils, dried parts, and extracts) in the treatment of
disease. Along with massage, it is the oldest form of
medicine known to man.
Originally plants were found by trial and error and their
effectiveness established over the millennia.
Today, this wealth of knowledge is enhanced by scientific
verification of a plant's chemical constituents, enabling
practitioners to mix and prescribe plants with a high
degree of accuracy and understanding.
Over 80% of the worlds population rely on herbs for health
and as such it is still the most widely used form of
medicine in the world even though we think of it as an
alternative therapy.
Herbal medicines, are extracts
from whole parts of a plant (e.g. berries, leaves, roots
etc.),
they contain hundreds, sometimes thousands of plant
constituents.
It is the Herbalists contention that these other
constituents balance the 'active' ingredients,
making them more or less powerful.
In orthodox medicine, for example, an alkaloid from the
herb
Ephedra sinica is used to treat asthma, it has the side
effect, however, of raising the blood pressure. Within the
whole plant are six other alkaloids, one of which prevents
a rise in blood pressure.
Similarly, synthetic diuretics (drugs which increase the
flow of urine) also have the effect of seriously reducing
potassium. Herbalists prefer Dandelion leaves which are a
powerful diuretic but also contain potassium to naturally
restore the potassium which is lost.
Herbs help to stimulate the
body to do what it is supposed to, thereby helping the body
to help itself.
Different cultures have their own philosophies with regards
to the use of herbs; here at Cure by Nature, our resident
herbalist uses Western Herbal Medicine.
What sorts of conditions can Herbal Medicine Treat?
Herbal Medicine can be useful for almost any condition –
whether it has been there for just a short while (such as a
cold) or a long time (such as irritable bowel syndrome).
You can even see a Herbalist for a general health screen,
to check that you are doing all the right things! If you
are unsure whether Herbal Medicine is suitable for you,
come in and speak to one of our practitioners, who will be
happy to advise you.
Herbal Medicine is safe to use for most people, including
babies, children, pregnant women and the elderly. Keep in
mind however that some herbs can interact with prescribed
medication and are unsuitable in certain circumstances
(particularly pregnancy, breast-feeding and professional
athletes). For this reason, it is always best to see a
qualified therapist for a suitable prescription.
What should I expect in a consultation?
You will need to arrive 10 minutes early for your first
appointment to fill in a form (basic information about
yourself). The first consultation will last for about an
hour. During this time, the Herbalist will ask lots of
questions about all systems of the body – not just those
you came in for. Some of these questions may not seem
relevant to your problem however the idea is to get a
picture of your overall health – physical, mental and
emotional. She will also use various diagnostic techniques
which may include blood pressure and tongue and nail
diagnosis.
At the end of the consultation, you will be given a
prescription. This may include herbs in the form of
tinctures, teas, tablets or creams. It is rare for only one
herb to be prescribed; normally a combination of herbs will
be put together - this is the art of Herbal Medicine!
The Herbalist will then tell you when she wants to see you
for your follow-up consult. Follow-up consultations take about 30 minutes.
NB: If you would like a
combined herbal medicine and nutrition consultation, please
see the section under “Naturopathy”