About Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine, also known as botanical medicine, or phytotherapy, is based on a combination of traditional knowledge, clinical experience, an understanding of medical sciences and scientific evidence.  It refers to the use of any plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers to prevent and treat ill health.  Herbal remedies are produced by either taking the whole plant, or just the part of the plant required, and often mixing it with other plants.  They are usually boiled in water or extracted in alcohol, and made into: herbal teas; decoctions; syrups; tinctures; infused oils; salves and ointment or creams.

The three main branches of herbal medicine are: The Western Herbal Tradition based on Greek, Roman and Medieval sources; The Ayurvedic Tradition of India; Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine

Many well established medicines originally come from plants.  For example, the painkiller morphine comes from poppies, aspirin comes from the bark of willow trees and digoxin (a drug used to treat heart failure) comes from foxgloves.  Although it's classed as a complementary medicine in the UK, it is actually the most widely practised form of medicine across the world.  Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their primary healthcare.  In Germany, roughly 600 to 700 plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by approximately 70% of German physicians.

Herbal medicine aims to be holistic – it treats the whole person, not just the symptoms and encourages the body to heal itself.  Herbalists believe that the chemical balance of the whole herb is needed for greatest effect and to reduce any potential side effects.

Herbal remedies for self treatment are available as tablets, capsules, ointments and creams as over the counter products.  For more serious complaints, you may want to see a trained herbalist who can advise on the safety and suitability of herbs.

The first consultation will last about one hour, during which time you will be asked detailed questions about general health, medical and family history, lifestyle and emotional state.  Treatment will include advice about diet, lifestyle as well as herbal medicine prescription.