Herbal medicine is at the heart of what I do and hold a special place with most of the clients who come and see me. Herbs are nature’s healing power, as is food, but herbs in tincture (liquid) form give a dose of medicine as powerful as any other. Further this by having each tonic lovingly made for each individual, crafted and tailored to their needs and what a little bottle of power you have to start a change in the body.
These questions have been adapted from the NIMH website (National Institute of Medical Herbalists) to explain a little more about the scope of herbal medicine and how it works:
What is a Herbalist?
Medical Herbalists make use of plants whose traditional uses are backed by modern scientific research and clinical trials.
Herbalists take a holistic approach to illness, treating the underlying cause of disease rather than just the symptoms. They are able to prescribe herbal remedies to be used alongside other medication and treatments, and many patients are referred from other health practitioners.
Herbal Medicine is suitable for people of any age, including children, who respond especially well to the gentle actions of herbs. Each patient is treated as an individual, on a case by case basis.
What is Herbal Medicine?
Plant-based medicines made from differing combinations of plant parts like leaves, flowers or roots. Each part can have different uses and the many types of chemical constituents require different extraction methods. Both fresh and dried plant parts are used, depending on the herb.
See our Plant Medicine blog for more on this.
What does a Herbalist treat?
Medical herbalism is for everyone and can treat most conditions and symptoms.
How long will herbal treatment take?
There is no definitive answer because so many variables will influence the duration of treatment. Our biological makeup is as unique as our medical histories and bodies heal at differing rates.
Influential factors affecting length of therapy required include:
• The condition
• Severity of the condition
• How long it has been present
• Past medical history
• Drug history
• Current health statusSometimes I can give you an estimated guideline once they have taken a detailed case history. It is important that progress is closely monitored and herbal prescriptions are adjusted accordingly over time.
Herbal medicine can sometimes take longer before beginning to achieve their desired effect when compared to pharmaceutical drugs. However, its gentle, supportive action aims to address the root cause of the condition and therefore usually produces more permanent results. In addition, when correctly prescribed, side effects are rare.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask me! Simply email info@mgherbs.com.au