focus on your health:
consult a herbalIST
consult a herbalIST
A web resource providing information on treatment with herbal medicine by qualified herbalists
Focus on your health: consult a herbal practitioner!
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Herbal Medicine - a diversity of traditions
Herbal medicine is offered within a variety of traditional medicine systems practiced throughout the UK & Europe including: - Ayurveda - Chinese Herbal Medicine - Traditional Tibetan Medicine - Unani Tibb - Western Herbal Medicine |
The Benefits of Seeing a Herbal Practitioner
There is no substitute for visiting a fully qualified practitioner of herbal medicine. Such a person will have trained to a high standard in whichever tradition of herbal medicine he/she practises.....read more |
Herbal medicine- slow & sure medicine
These days everything’s a rush and when it comes to managing our health this does not go well. We need to slow down to consider all aspects of our life that contribute to our health - diet, exercise, sleep patterns and work/life balance. A herbal consultation provides the time and space to explore all your health issues. .. read more |
Herbal Medicine - a brief history
Plants have been used as medicines before recorded history and their medicinal use is common to all cultures and peoples of the world.... read more |
What to look for when choosing a herbal practitioner
Currently there is no mandatory regulation of herbalists in the UK. Therefore you need to be confident that the herbalist you choose is competent.... read more |
How to find a herbalist
There are about 2500 herbalists practising in the UK. Most professional associations have a directory on their websites. You can also search on the Internet for a local herbalist.... read more |
Herbal treatment - the whole works!
Treating the whole person
A herbalist treats the person, and not just the symptoms and signs of disease; the focus is on treating the person rather than the condition. Herbal practice is based on this holistic approach, understanding that the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements of an individual are interconnected to maintain or regain vitality and health. For this reason, holistic herbal practice directly involves the patient in the management of his/her illness and health maintenance; the patient is not a passive participant; patient and herbalist cooperate as partners to attain optimum health.
A herbalist treats the person, and not just the symptoms and signs of disease; the focus is on treating the person rather than the condition. Herbal practice is based on this holistic approach, understanding that the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual elements of an individual are interconnected to maintain or regain vitality and health. For this reason, holistic herbal practice directly involves the patient in the management of his/her illness and health maintenance; the patient is not a passive participant; patient and herbalist cooperate as partners to attain optimum health.
Empowering the patient
Patient and practitioner work together to scope the patient’s health issues within the context of his/her lifestyle, environment, diet and medical history in order to develop a successful treatment plan to restore harmony of body, mind and spirit. To this end, herbal practitioners carry out in-depth consultations, make diagnostic judgements and treat patients using herbal prescriptions which are flexibly adjusted in the light of the patient’s changing condition for optimum effect. Alongside herbal treatment itself, herbal practitioners help patients to develop sufficient self-awareness and know-how to change unhealthy patterns of diet and lifestyle to improve their health. This is remarkably empowering for the person seeking treatment.
Patient and practitioner work together to scope the patient’s health issues within the context of his/her lifestyle, environment, diet and medical history in order to develop a successful treatment plan to restore harmony of body, mind and spirit. To this end, herbal practitioners carry out in-depth consultations, make diagnostic judgements and treat patients using herbal prescriptions which are flexibly adjusted in the light of the patient’s changing condition for optimum effect. Alongside herbal treatment itself, herbal practitioners help patients to develop sufficient self-awareness and know-how to change unhealthy patterns of diet and lifestyle to improve their health. This is remarkably empowering for the person seeking treatment.
Treatment example
As an illustration let’s take the treatment of chronic headaches. Although there are remedies available over the counter for this, they will generally only be helpful to easing the symptoms but not necessarily getting to the root cause. A herbalist will evaluate all of the information that a patient gives and devise herbal treatment that will treat the underlying cause of the problem. Treatment will be individualised since each person is different in genetic makeup, medical history, diet, general health and sensitivity to medicines. Assessing a patient involves listening to their account of what troubles them, observing clues as to what has led them to become unwell and conducting a full physical examination. A herbal consultation generally provides significantly more time that is usual in routine appointments within the NHS. Such empathetic consultations should not be dismissed as a ‘placebo’ or a ‘good bedside manner’. Patients value direct involvement in their own healthcare through active participation and decision making by working with their herbal practitioner to explore treatment options. During the consultation time even the most minor of health concerns will be discovered and discussed and these will all be taken into consideration when devising a tailored treatment programme to bring that person back to the best health possible.
As an illustration let’s take the treatment of chronic headaches. Although there are remedies available over the counter for this, they will generally only be helpful to easing the symptoms but not necessarily getting to the root cause. A herbalist will evaluate all of the information that a patient gives and devise herbal treatment that will treat the underlying cause of the problem. Treatment will be individualised since each person is different in genetic makeup, medical history, diet, general health and sensitivity to medicines. Assessing a patient involves listening to their account of what troubles them, observing clues as to what has led them to become unwell and conducting a full physical examination. A herbal consultation generally provides significantly more time that is usual in routine appointments within the NHS. Such empathetic consultations should not be dismissed as a ‘placebo’ or a ‘good bedside manner’. Patients value direct involvement in their own healthcare through active participation and decision making by working with their herbal practitioner to explore treatment options. During the consultation time even the most minor of health concerns will be discovered and discussed and these will all be taken into consideration when devising a tailored treatment programme to bring that person back to the best health possible.
Herbal treatment for health maintenance
Having ongoing maintenance treatment with a herbal practitioner is an excellent idea whether it is to treat an existing problem or just to keep well. Seeing a herbal practitioner on a regular basis provides a full health assessment with someone who has taken time and effort to understand your situation and health needs and can provide herbal treatment and advice to maintain optimum health.
Having ongoing maintenance treatment with a herbal practitioner is an excellent idea whether it is to treat an existing problem or just to keep well. Seeing a herbal practitioner on a regular basis provides a full health assessment with someone who has taken time and effort to understand your situation and health needs and can provide herbal treatment and advice to maintain optimum health.
Homeopathy is not the same as herbal medicine
Many people get mixed up with homeopathy and herbal medicine - they are not the same and are totally different systems of medicine. If you see a homeopath they will prescribe homeopathic medicines that are made from substances such as minerals, chemicals and plants which are diluted many, many times often so that there is no molecules of that substance left. Instead the medicine is like an essence or frequency. If you see a herbalist, you will be given herbal medicine that actually contains herbs or herb extracts and is prepared in various forms.
This website is supported by the European Herbal and Traditional Practitioners Association - www.ehtpa.org
Banner photo credit: Jason Ingram, Organic Herb Trading Company