Please find below a list of the most frequently asked questions below. If you have anyfurther questions please feel free to contact me.

Can Herbal Medicine as prescribed by a Medical Herbalist help me?

The doctor is unable to tell me exactly what is wrong with me, I've had lots of tests and they all come back clear, can you help?

How might allergy testing benefit me?

What can I expect from a Consultation for Herbal Medicine with a Medical Herbalist?

What dose herbal medicine look and taste like?

For how long will I need to take Herbal Medicine?

Is Herbal Medicine as prescribed by a Medical Herbalist safe?

What about the medicines I have from the doctor?

How much dose it cost?

Can Herbal Medicine as prescribed by a Medical Herbalist help me?

Medical Herbalists consider the body as a whole rather than the symptoms of disease in isolation. People with similar symptoms will be prescribed different herbal medicines depending on what the Medical Herbalist believes are the contributing factors. So as I treat individuals rather then their disease many conditions can improve. That said, there are a number of ailments I see regularly, for more information click here.

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The doctor is unable to tell me exactly what is wrong with me, I've had lots of tests and they all come back clear, can you help?

This is where consultation with a Medical Herbalist, or sometimes even for an allergy test can come into its own. Because I treat people and look at the health picture different to a GP I don't need to have a diagnosis in order to give treatment.

How might allergy testing benefit me?

Allergy testing is offered as part of, or completely independent of Herbal Medicine treatment. All the information you may like to see about allergy testing can be found here.

What can I expect from a Consultation for Herbal Medicine with a Medical Herbalist?

During the initial one hour consultation a detailed case history is taken, finding out about your current and past state of health, any symptoms, current medication and details of your diet and lifestyle. You may be asked lots of questions as a Medical Herbalist wants to get the best understanding of how your body is working as a whole. I will then decide the factors I think may be contributing to causing your condition and discuss this with you. As Medical Herbalists are trained in conventional diagnosis I may ask to perform the necessary examinations - such as pulse, blood pressure and other more complicated procedures (such as respiratory or cardio-vascular examination) if necessary to your individual case.

What follows on from this is what makes herbal medicine from a Medical Herbalist completely different to buying over the counter products without professional advice. You will be prescribed a mixture of herbs, aimed at addressing both the symptoms and the cause of your condition. There may well be measures you can take to help the situation too and if so, this will be discussed. Many people find this aspect of the consultation extremely empowering.

Follow up consultations last about half an hour and help monitor your progress and alter the prescription when necessary. Once you have seen me for the first consultation I have your notes and history on file. What this means is should you wish to consult with me for subsequent health complaints you would only ever need a follow up consultation!

What dose herbal medicine look and taste like?

Mostly organic herbal tinctures are used sourced from specialist manufacturers in the UK. Many of the herbs are grown and tinctured in Bearsted, close to Maidstone in Kent. Tinctures are liquid medicines preserved for longevity in a little alcohol, they can be mixed together easily so you get one bottle with all the ingredients contained that you take a teaspoon or so with a little water, two to three times daily. Dose does vary though between individuals with children needing much less!! Sometimes I use dried herbs to be made into a herbal tea, topical creams, oils, sometimes tablets or capsules and occasionally herbs to put in the bath for your full body, hands or feet.

Herbal Medicine tincture initially tastes unusual, but you soon get used to it, even children. Besides, I always try to add ingredients to improve the taste if necessary, because if you cant take the medicine it cant do its job!

For how long will I need to take Herbal Medicine?

Each person and their presentation is unique. Some people are helped by one consultation with a Medical Herbalist and 4-6 weeks of medicine, others may need a longer course of treatment and follow up appointments to monitor their progress and alter the medicine when necessary. Acute, self limiting conditions usually respond quickly, as do those with recent onset. I have many patients who prefer to take herbal medicine all the time, in order to maintain good health, or as a gentler alternative to pharmaceutical medicine. For a better idea of timescales for your particular condition why not contact me.

Is Herbal Medicine as prescribed by a Medical Herbalist safe?

Yes, in the hands of a fully qualified Medical Herbalist herbal medicine is safe for all ages from birth to the elderly, including during pregnancy. I am a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, for further information click here.

What about the medicines I have from the doctor?

Medical Herbalists are trained in both herb and pharmaceutical drug pharmacology so understand fully any possible interactions between herbal medicine and your existing medicine.

How much dose it cost?

This is a difficult one to answer due to the individualised approach I have when prescribing medicines. I will try when possible to work within your budget. For more specific queries then please contact me.