Treatments
What to expect:
If you have never visited a herbalist before it may be helpful to know what to expect of a consultation. An appointment lasts between 30 minutes to 1 ½ hours. It is usual for the time to consist of 4 parts:
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Part 1: History taking
Part 2: Physical examinations
Part 3: Treatment goals
Part 4: Prescription & Dispensing
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Part 1: A first appointment will need to be longer to take account of your health history and past medications, as an awareness of the progression of your health throughout your life is helpful in seeing your unique picture. Your life style, dietary habits and current medications add greater depth and in order to get a really good picture of your over-all health I will ask questions about the workings of each system of your body.
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Part 2 involves carrying out any physical examinations that seem relevant. It is helpful during a first consultation to carry out a general examination in order to supplement our investigation. Follow-ups will likely always include a blood pressure check and examinations only if called for, e.g. looking in the ears with earache, listening to the chest with a cough, observing a rash on the skin or limb movements in motor issues.
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Part 3 is where together we create a plan to help achieve our treatment goals. I may ask you to complete a diet diary or offer dietary or lifestyle advice. We will also work out together the most convenient ways to take your herbs.
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Part 4 may take place during your visit or after. It involves creating a unique herbal prescription for you and dispensing the medicine. In reality the bit between creating the prescription and dispensing it is variable. With safety in mind, and particularly with a first consultation, I would want to check all medications, (prescribed by a doctor, plus over-the-counter medicines and supplements), against my chosen herbs for possible interactions, e.g. the contraceptive pill, blood pressure medications etc… I would also check for contra-indications in specific situations such as pregnancy, liver conditions, children etc… It is likely that I will have a set of herbs in mind by the time our appointment has ended, however, for added safety and only when I am satisfied with my choice after further consideration, will I make up the medicine to be collected later. Understandably this process will become more efficient with continual experience.
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Medicines will take the form of any or a combination of the following: dried herb teas, powders, capsules, creams, lotions, syrups, and tinctures. Tinctures are liquid extracts created by macerating, (soaking), herbs in alcohol of varying strengths for a period of time in order to extract the active constituents. The alcohol strength is dependent on the plants chemical contents, e.g. myrrh is highly resinous and requires 90% alcohol, whilst most will extract sufficiently in 25% or 45%. They are concentrated, easily absorbable and well-preserved and so have become the mainstay treatment of most herbalists today. Tinctures are usually taken at an adult dosage of 5ml three times a day with meals. A prescription for a tincture will usually contain around 5 herbs. This makes a single medicine very versatile and convenient. Each herb can be added to address a different goal within our treatment plan and can also work in synergy together.
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I will usually prescribe 2 weeks medicine and ask to see you for a follow-up appointment after that time to see how you are doing. I may tweak your prescription just a little, such as substituting one herb for another, in order to best match the needs of your body. If all is well we can make subsequent appointments at 6-8 week intervals and prescribe medicines accordingly. A week worth of tincture is around £7. With a more complex health picture I may refer you to other practitioners for added input, treatment or support such as gaining further tests from your GP. I can also liaise with other healthcare professionals involved in your care.
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Lasting positive change to health can take time and so ongoing treatment will be encouraged in order to achieve your aims. When your situation improves you may no longer require the herbal medicines and I will not need to see you again. I am generally happy to dispense repeat prescriptions and like to see you for a check-up at least every 3 months to monitor your progress.
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