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”