Western Herbs

Western herbalism works with traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and modern clinical practice to unlock the root cause of your symptoms. The medicine acts on the body similar to pharmaceutical drugs with the exception that there are fewer side effects, often none at all. It helps with both acute conditions and chronic illnesses.

Who is it suitable for?

Taking herbal medicine can be safe and effective for children to the elderly, when under the supervision of a qualified herbalist.

What conditions can it help with?

This holistic approach to medicine may help patients with chronic and acute conditions including:

Chronic:

stress
anxiety
insomnia
diabetes
arthritis
gynecology conditions
heart health
skin ailments
auto-immune diseases
metabolic imbalances, plus many more.

Acute:

first aid
common colds
sprains
allergies, plus many more.

What happens in the first session?

After a free 15-minute phone chat to get to know you, your first consultation will last one hour and will include an assessment of your medical history, current medication, as well as diet and sleep patterns.

It may also involve clinical assessments such as taking your blood pressure, looking at your respiratory and muscular-skeletal health and so on.

From this your herbalist will gather the information required to formulate the best herbal treatment for you.

What does a herbal consultation involve?

In your first, and all follow-up herbal consultations, your herbalist will work with you to get to the root of what may be causing your symptoms. Your herbalist will then use a range of herbs as appropriate to formulate a bespoke prescription for you that takes account of your needs. They will create a treatment plan for you to help achieve long lasting, natural good health.

After your appointment, your herbalist will then spend considerable time preparing your individual herbal medicine prescription, factoring in any medication you are taking, as well as other elements unique to you. The prescription will also include lifestyle recommendations including nutritional advice and supplementation. Where possible, your herbalist will also advise on how best to bring herbs into your daily life through nutrition and seasonal foraging tips.

The follow-up consultations last 30 minutes. They involve your herbalist finding out how you have been getting on and to see if any changes need to be made to your prescription.

How many sessions will I need?

Treatment may vary anywhere between 1 to 12 months, depending on your individual needs. Factors that may influence the number of treatments include: the condition, how long you’ve had it, the severity, drug history, past medical conditions.

Usually, appointments are every 4 to 6 weeks. At each follow-up appointment, your herbalist will assess how your herbs have worked for you to then move to the next stage of your treatment plan.

What about for women's health conditions?

If it is for a women’s health issue, your herbalist will want to ideally track your symptoms over the course of two to three months, depending on the condition. For example, for endometriosis, your practitioner will want to see you in each of four stages of your menstrual cycle, to understand how mood, pain levels, cravings and energy levels differ. This is so they can best support your health to help you feel better, for the long term.

Another example is treating menopausal symptoms such as anxiety, brain fog, low energy, hot flushes and so on. Your herbalist will want to monitor your symptoms over one to two months to get to the root cause.

How long before I see results?

Herbal medicine may take longer before beginning to achieve the desired effect when compared to pharmaceutical drugs. However, the herbs are gentle and aim to address the root cause of your condition and as a result usually produce more permanent results. In addition, when correctly prescribed, side effects are rare.

What if I'm already taking other medicines?

Your herbalist is qualified to work with patients who are on existing medication. All herbs prescribed will be safe to take alongside any existing current medication, factoring in any known herb-drug interactions.

When will I receive my prescription?

You will usually receive your herbs within a week of your appointment. They can either be posted out to you or you can collect them from a home dispensary within Bristol.