What is Herbal Medicine?
Plants have been around on Earth for a very long time - in the region of 400,000,000 years in forms that we would recognise. In contrast, modern humans have been here for just a fraction of that time - around 300,000 years. In some ways plants are the ultimate master chemists, using a small set of chemical ingredients to generate all they need to thrive. In doing so, they create an enormous array of complex constituents (known as phytochemicals) that they - and we - and all other life on earth can use in a way that we might now describe as 'medicine'.
Modern Western Herbal medicine uses whole plant extracts - containing this vast array of plant chemicals - to support health, prevent or treat illness and assist the body's own healing capacity. Practitioners always aim to understand why a person has developed a disease, and where possible treat the underlying causes, not just the symptoms. Herbal medicine combines the traditional knowledge developed over thousands of years of human evolution with contemporary scientific research. For this reason, the way we use herbs as medicines has its roots in a range of cultures and time periods in addition to our own British tradition, especially drawing on Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as North American indigenous knowledge. Most herbs are very gentle, although some have a strong effect, and professional herbalists have access to dispensaries containing hundreds of different herbs, some of which may only be prescribed by a qualified herbalist.. All represent a powerful way to 'nudge' our bodies in the direction of health, using the plants we and all other animals have evolved alongside throughout the ages.
Until relatively recently in the UK, herbal medicine was pretty much the only medicine, only being replaced systematically by pharmaceutical based medicine from the 18th century. Many of these pharmaceuticals were originally derived from plants, and later synthesised, often using petrochemicals. One of the best known examples is aspirin, which was derived from willow bark. Other well known drugs that have been synthetically modified from plants include digoxin from foxgloves, and morphine from the opium poppy. In some cases this has resulted in drugs which are somewhat safer (notable that herbalists do not generally use foxglove due to its toxicity!), however in other cases it has created drugs with significant side effects - the risk of stomach irritation and bleeding associated with aspirin for example, which does not occur with the whole herb, due to the presence of other chemicals which protect the lining of the digestive system and prevent this irritant effect.
In many parts of the world today, herbal medicine has retained its status as a mainstream therapy, and is comfortably used as a primary healthcare system, or integrated with Western orthodox medicine. In the UK there has been a resurgence of interest in herbal medicine as research continues to accumulate showing its benefits, interest in our own indigenous traditions grows, and as our national healthcare system becomes ever more strained.
Herbal medicine is for everyone!
To paraphrase a very wise teacher of mine, 'there is nothing that can't be helped, even just a little, with the use of plants' and I would definitely agree. There are also many issues and complaints that can be helped a lot, perhaps even to the point of complete recovery.
Herbal medicine is gentle enough to be be used even for babies, and has a role to play at every stage of the life cycle, whether you are a teenager wrestling with hormonal acne, a busy parent dealing with the stress of juggling children, a home, and a job, or an older person looking for help with painful arthritis that is affecting your ability to carry out day to day activities.
There are some things we cannot do - for example we are not legally allowed to 'treat' cancer, however there is much that can be done to support people going through cancer and its treatment, from making sure the person is holistically as fit as possible so they can better withstand treatment, to helping skin healing after radiotherapy, and supporting emotional and mental health - for families as well as the person with cancer.
Below is a list of just some of the most common complaints and life changes people visit a herbalist for help with. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. As that wise teacher said, there is really no situation that can't be made at least a little better with the help of herbs! If you're not sure if you can be helped, feel free to get in touch and I will be happy to discuss.
Digestion: colic and reflux in babies, indigestion, heartburn, GORD, constipation, diarrhoea, IBS, inflammatory bowel disease
Heart: cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, angina, circulation problems, varicose veins
Hormones: teenage acne, puberty, menopause, fertility
Mental health: fatigue, stress, anxiety, low mood, depression, overwhelm, ADHD, exam stress, panic attacks, grief, aging and cognitive decline
Immune and lungs: coughs, colds, hay fever, sinusitis, ear infections, UTIs, bronchitis, COPD, autoimmune disorders, asthma, allergies and intolerances
Skin: cradle cap, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, acne, fungal infections, thrush, dry skin
Muscles and joints: muscle strain, muscle pain, joint pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia
Women's health: painful, heavy or irregular periods, fertility, endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, breast health, pregnancy, breastfeeding, PMS, thrush, cystitis, perimenopausal symptoms - hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, palpitations, brain fog, insomnia.
Men's health: enlarged prostate, prostatitis, infertility, erectile dysfunction
Endocrine and nervous system: insomnia, over- or under-active thyroid, diabetes, neuropathy, chronic fatigue
Who is it for? How can Herbal Medicine help?
What happens at a first consultation?
A first herbal medicine consultation usually lasts around 90 minutes. This allows us to explore the problem you want help with in depth, and also get a full and detailed medical history which helps put your current health in context. For example, I will ask about any other issues you have with your health, and whether you have had serious illnesses or surgery in the past. We will talk through all aspects of your health as well as your diet, activities you take part in, and what your day to day life looks like.
This sounds detailed and it is! By understanding your history as well as your current situation I am able to treat you in a truly holistic way. This means I don't 'just' treat your problem, I treat you as a whole, integrated person. Every part of your physical and mental wellbeing affects all the other parts, and this is central to my approach. Many patients remark that through this process they feel their story has been heard properly, often for the first time. This can be profoundly healing in itself, especially when people have suffered for years from chronic illness, or when they feel orthodox healthcare has been unable to help them.
I will also ask you about any medications you are taking. My training enables me to provide herbal care which can be genuinely 'complementary' to that you are receiving in mainstream healthcare provision, and it is entirely possible to take herbal medicines safely alongside prescription medication.
In some cases, if you are comfortable and with your permission, I may examine you physically, for example by taking your blood pressure, feeling a muscle group or joint, listening to your lungs or heart with a stethoscope, or feeling your tummy.
At the end of the consultation I will usually prescribe you some herbal medicine. Occasionally I may take a day or two to prepare your medicine - e.g. if I don't already have the herbs or preparation you need in stock, if you take a large number of medicines that need to be cross checked against the herbs, or if I want to do some research around a less commonly encountered condition. In these cases you will be able to collect your medicine, or we will agree a delivery method. Medicines are uniquely blended for you, and more often than not take the form of a tincture (alcoholic extract) or a tea. If you have allergies or cannot take alcohol there are always alternatives available. It might be that you would benefit from herbs in powdered or syrup form, or in capsules. I might also suggest something to be used externally, for example a cream or liniment, or some herbs to use as a poultice or put in a hand or foot bath. Whatever the prescription you will leave with clear instructions about how, and how long, to use it, and with a plan for following up, usually in 3 or 4 weeks, to see how you are getting on and adjust the medicine if necessary.