What
is Medical Herbalism?
Medical Herbalism is the name given to using plants as medicinal
remedies. It is the oldest system of medicine in the world with
a wealth of knowledge that has been passed down through centuries
through many different global cultures. Today this age-old wisdom
is supplemented by our knowledge of anatomy, physiology and
pathology. The advancement of science also enables the modern
herbalist to have a deeper understanding of a plant’s medicinal
actions, through pharmacological studies.
The medicines used are prepared solely from plants - leaves,
roots, barks, berries and oils - and are dispensed as tinctures,
creams, ointments and herbal teas.
How it Works
The physiological actions of plant drugs are only gradually
becoming understood. In some cases they work directly on symptoms,
in other cases a herb seems to serve as a general tonic to a
particular body system. Extracting the so called ‘active
agent’ from a plant medicine and administering it directly
rarely produces the same beneficial effect as the entire plant,
probably because even the simplest herb is a very complex organic
package of delicately balanced ingredients compounded over millennia
by Mother Nature. While herbs can be employed symptomatically
for minor ailments in complex illness it is best to work on
the holistic model, most usually in conjunction with a qualified
herbalist.
The Herbalist’s Approach
A Medical Herbalist will have the initials MNIMH after their
name. This lets you know that they have undertaken fours years
diploma or degree course in herbal medicine, studying orthodox
medical sciences as well as botanical therapeutics. Although
herbalists are trained with the same skills as GP’s they
take a holistic approach to treating illness and prescribe very
different remedies.
When you visit a Medial Herbalist for the first time a detailed
case history will be taken. The underlying cause of the problem
is sought and it is this that is treated instead of the symptoms
alone. As well as discussing your current health complaint fully
a Herbalist will want to know about your diet, lifestyle and
family history for inherited health patterns. By building up
a complete picture of your individual constitution a Medical
Herbalist can then help to steer you on a course to good health.
Typically a first consultation will take an hour to and hour
and a half.
What
Can Herbal Medicine Help?
Common complaints seen by Medical herbalists include skin problems
such as psoriasis, eczema and acne, digestive disorders such
as peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, colitis
and other inflammatory bowel diseases, circulatory complaints
such as high blood pressure, varicose veins and ulcerations,
as well as simple angina, gynaecological problems such as PMS,
endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, heavy or painful periods
and menopause.
The range of natural medicine from the plants cover all systems
of the body. For example, the immune system can be enhanced
and support given to the kidneys, lungs and musculoskeletal
system, giving herbs a beneficial role in any associated complaints
such as cystitis, asthma and arthritis.
Stress is one of the major contributors to ill health, and herbal
relaxants are ideally placed as part of a stress management
programme which also involves identification of stressors and
lifestyle change.
Can Herbal Medicine Be Used by Children and Infants?
Because of their youth, children and infants are usually much
less complicated beings than adults in terms of the way a Medical
Herbalist thinks of illness patterns accumulating through a
lifespan and perhaps this is why they respond so particularly
well to the gentle, supportative, rather than suppressive approach
typical of herbal medicine.
Herbal Medicine Alongside the Doctor’s Medicine
A Medical Herbalist will not insist that you stop taking current
medication prescribed by your doctor. Once health is achieved
through using herbal remedies you may wish to discuss with your
doctor the possibility of reducing, or coming off, medicines
prescribed by him/her which you no longer require. Prescribed
herbal remedies will not interfere with the effect of your doctor’s
prescriptions. Given under the supervision of a trained Medical
Herbalist, herbal medicines are completely safe.
Professional
Organisation
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists
56 Longbrook Street
Exeter EX4 6AH
Tel: 01392 426 022
e-mail nimh@ukexeter.freeserve.co.uk
Webpage: www.NIMH.org.uk
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists was established
in 1864 and is the oldest body of practising herbalists in existence
today. All members have achieved the necessary standard of training
for entrance to the Institute. The are fully insured and adhere
to a strict professional Code of Ethics.
Further Reading
Hoffman, David ‘The Holistic Herbal’ Element
Woods, Matthew ‘The Book of Herbal Wisdom’ North Atlantic
Books
McIntyre, Anne ‘The Herbal for Mother and Child’ Element
Curtis, Susan ‘Natural Healing for Women’ Harper Collins
Green, James ‘The Male Herbal’ The Crossing Press
HealthWorks
Practitioner - Jacqui Hazzard (01887 840773)
Skin
problems such as psoriasis, eczema and acne