Herbal medicine

Herbal medicine is the use of medicinal plants for the prevention and treatment of disease.  We have used these plants for healthcare for thousands of years.  We now know that they contain dozens, even hundreds of active constituents, and it is these plant constituents that give herbs their ability to affect body systems.  This knowledge has been used in the development of modern drugs many of which were inspired by or derived from plant constituents. 

However, whereas pharmaceutical medicines are based on single ingredients, herbalists use medicines produced from whole plant-extracts which have many ingredients that work simultaneously in the body to produce their therapeutic action.  Herbalists greatly value this complexity in their remedies, and believe that the synergism between the constituents contributes not only to their effectiveness but also to the overall gentle and well-tolerated nature of herbal medicines.  This has been supported by modern research which increasingly shows the benefits of herbal medications in terms of efficacy and safety. 

In addition, following a consultation a herbalist produces an appropriate and individual prescription comprised of a mixture of perhaps four or five herbs. This increases the complexity of the remedy and the potential for synergism.

Whilst it is useful to have research studies into individual plant constituents this is not how herbalists prescribe their medicines.  Herbalists would welcome more research into whole plant-extracts to demonstrate the benefits, but often it is the individual constituents which are researched for drug development purposes.

Qualified herbalists are trained in both medical and plant sciences.  Accumulated traditional knowledge of herbal medicine use is also important.  A medical herbalist considers all these aspects when approaching treatment of disease.  A herbalist will not simply treat the symptoms or condition, they are trained to search out the root cause of the problem, and discover what imbalances are preventing the body from healing itself.  The herbalist will then select the most appropriate combination of remedies prepared from whole plant-extracts.  The herbal remedies are chosen to stimulate or strengthen the body's normal functions in support of the body's healing processes.  Since every person is an individual the particular combination of herbs chosen for them by the herbalist will depend on their particular therapeutic requirements, therefore every prescription is different.  Put simply, herbalists do not treat symptoms, we treat people. 

Though herbal medicines have been used for a very long time, the modern world provides us with new challenges, such as pollution, long-term stress, multiple drug resistance, drug side-effects, and the modern diseases of affluence such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.  However, we now know more about our bodies and how we can protect them from such challenges.   The combination of accumulated traditional knowledge with modern scientific research has created modern herbalism, a holistic, effective, natural treatment, which is often able to provide considerable improvement for people with a variety of conditions, especially with concurrent improvements in nutrition and/or lifestyle .

Herbal medicine is appropriate for most of the conditions for which you might visit your GP.  As a medical herbalist I prescribe herbal medicines for people with a wide range of acute and chronic conditions.  Every person is unique and therefore each prescription is different and specific to the person being treated. 

Complaints seen by herbalists include:
cardiovascular - high blood pressure; poor circulation; varicose veins; anaemia
respiratory - cough; colds and flu; sinusitis; hayfever; tonsillitis; bronchitis; bronchiectasis
digestive - indigestion; hyperacidity; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); stomach ulcer; inflammatory bowel disease; diarrhoea; haemorrhoids; flatulence; food sensitivities
urinary - infections such as cystitis, urethritis; prostatitis; benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); bladder discomfort
nervous - anxiety; depression; panic attacks; stress; insomnia; headaches and migraines; chronic fatigue
musculo-skeletal - arthritis; rheumatism; gout
skin - eczema; acne; psoriasis; dermatitis; skin healing issues
reproduction - premenstrual syndrome; menopausal symptoms; polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS); painful, heavy or irregular periods; endometriosis; fibroids; infertility
immune - chronic or recurrent infections

Herbal medicine is suitable for people of all ages.  Babies and children often respond well to herbal treatment and can benefit because herbal remedies provide gentle and well tolerated medicines which are appropriate for developing body systems.  Herbs have helped infants and children with recurrent infections including ear infections, coughs and colds, as well as colic and hyperactivity.

Herbal medicine can also be useful for preventing seasonal infections such as colds and flu; supporting detox programmes; helping to reduce cravings; providing support through stressful times; or helping to reduce the side effects of pharmaceutical medications or treatments.

Qualified herbalists are trained to safely prescribe herbal medicines alongside pharmaceutical medications, and to avoid any potential adverse interactions.  If appropriate and only with your consent, your GP or consultant can be kept fully informed of any herbal regime provided.

I am sorry, but I can not provide answers to specific health questions by telephone or e-mail unless you are currently under my professional care.  For more details or to make an appointment with me at the herbal clinic in Cottesmore, please e-mail or telephone me on 01572 813888.