What is Western Herbal Medicine?

Chinese Herbalists are a familiar sight on our high streets, but few people know that we also have a strong tradition of using our own native herbs to treat illness. Herbal medicine has stood the test of time all over the world over many thousands of years, and even today over 80% of the world’s population rely on herbs as their sole source of medicine. In the past each area would have had its own ‘Medicine Woman’, who was called to attend births and deaths, and treat any sickness in between. Sadly much of the knowledge we’d accumulated was lost forever during the middle ages. What survived has continued to evolve into Western Herbal Medicine as we know it today, and it’s continuing to become increasingly popular. Nowadays Medical Herbalists train at University over a period of three or four years, during which time they learn about conventional as well as holistic approaches to health & dis-ease. Western Herbal Medicine uses the whole plant to treat the whole person, and our plants are prepared in a number of ways, including:

• Teas, where the fresh or dried herb is added to boiling water and taken as an infusion.
• Tinctures, where the herb is steeped in a mixture of alcohol and water to make a concentrated liquid.
• Capsules or tablets, made from crushed dried herbs.
• Creams, ointments, or gels, which are applied to the skin.
• Juices, where all or part of the plant is juiced and taken in liquid form.

How is it different to Homoeopathy and Chinese Herbal Medicine?

Homoepathy uses a 'mother tincture' of a plant or animal substance, and mixes a drop into a much larger amount of water. A drop of this can then be mixed again into more water until there's really no trace of the mother tincture left. As the dilution gets weaker the energetic effect of the medicine gets stronger, so that although there's no pharmacologically active constituents in the medicine, it still works. Nobody fully understands how homoepathy works, but as it helps young children and animals who are unaware that they're taking it, it doesn't seem to be just down to placebo. Chinese Herbal Medicine is a very ancient practice with an underlying approach that's quite alien to our western culture. Chinese Herbalists train for much longer even than UK trained Doctors, and are much more skilled in accurately assessing a patient's state of health without the need for modern technology. Chinese Herbal Medicine has a higher profile in the UK than our own tradition because the Chinese government subsidise them to work here, and whilst many people have been helped by Chinese Herbalists they can often cost more than expected. There have also been issues with using endangered animals and contaminated herbs, so if you're considering seeing a Chinese Herbalist take care to find one who works ethically.

How does Western Herbal Medicine work?

Until recently, we only had anecdotal ways of understanding which herbs to use when, but how they worked was a bit of a mystery. A project called 'Ethnomedica' based at Kew Gardens records anecdotal evidence from people who remember using herbal remedies in the past. They're always looking for more 'remembered remedies', so if you can help, please go to the Ethnomedica website.  Nowadays we can use scientific methods to identify the active constituents in a plant, and gain understanding of their effects on body tissue. Sometimes these constituents can be isolated and made into drugs such as Digoxin for heart failure and Taxol used in chemotherapy. As Herbalists we believe that it’s best to use the whole plant as allowing all their constituents to work together is a easier for the body to work with, and therefore less likely to cause unpleasant side effects. Herbs can be used pharmacologically to treat physical aspects of illness, and energetically to work on the more emotional aspects.

What sorts of illnesses can be treated with Western Herbal Medicine?

As Herbalists, our aim is to treat the whole person instead of the symptoms of their illness, so any health problem can potentially be helped by herbal medicine. As well as the more common ailments such as I.B.S, hay fever, and eczema, we treat people with serious illnesses, genetic conditions and so on. Using herbs, dietary advice, and lifestyle changes, a Herbalist takes a positive approach in helping patients back to their optimum state of health. Whilst we can’t make any promises, there are countless cases of patients making a far better recovery than they ever expected whilst seeing a Herbalist. Quite often when patients start talking during their first consultation, a number of possible reasons for their illness become apparent, and my aim is to work with patients to start addressing these at a level which is comfortable for them. Sometimes people get better just from the herbs, others realise that they need to make bigger changes like getting away from a situation that's made them unhappy for a long time. The holistic approach used by Herbalists can work on all aspects of why a person becomes unwell, and support the patient in the steps they want to take in order to become well again. This approach offers unlimited opportunities for a person's health to improve, and in this respect is far more versatile than conventional treatments.

Do you treat serious illnesses like cancer?

As Herbalists we are not allowed to make claims to treat or cure cancer, but neither are we allowed to turn away patients who want to see us. As with all patients, we aim to treat the whole person, not just the illness. Quite often those suffering from serious illness are already receiving treatment from their Doctor by the time they come to see me, and are always recommended to continue with that whilst on their herbs. The aim of the herbal treatment is to support the person throughout their illness in the best way we can, which may mean buffering the side effects of chemo / radiotherapy, or something as simple as a hand massage for people who are very debilitated. Where someone's already made the decision not to undergo conventional treatment herbs can help maintain vitality and provide support on all levels. There's always something that can be done, but the reasons why people become ill can be very complicated - it's really a question of giving it a go and seeing what happens.

Is there any scientific evidence that Herbal Medicine works?

Yes!. There’s no easy way of measuring the effectiveness of having herbal treatment for a certain condition over drug treatment from a Doctor, as the approaches and medicines are completely different. However there have been numerous trials published looking at individual herbs, and many of these can be seen on-line or in specialist publications. If you read these it’s important to remember that herbs do not work in the same way as drugs, so should not be seen as a drug substitute. For example, if you read that St John’s Wort has been found effective in treating depression when tested against Prozac, it would be wrong to assume that Prozac can be safely swapped for St John’s Wort. Herbalists recognise that every patient is different, so each prescription is tailor-made to suit your needs at the time.

Can I take herbs even though I’m on medicine from the Doctor?

It is safe to take herbs whilst on conventional medication, but it would be advisable to check the herbs you’re thinking of taking with your local Herbalist first. In 2000 there was a scare over using St John’s Wort with conventional drugs, as some experiments suggested that it may interact with commonly prescribed drugs. In practise though Herbalists very rarely see drug interactions with St Johns Wort or any other herb, but get professional advice from your Herbalist if you’re unsure.

Can I take herbs whilst I’m in hospital?

This can be difficult not because there’s anything wrong with taking herbs, but because there’s very little understanding about herbs within the medical profession. Hospital Doctors are often wary or disapproving of their patients taking prescribed herbal medicines whilst in their care, because they lack the knowledge about how they work. If you’re under a Herbalist and need to stay in hospital, your Herbalist may be able to write to your Doctor explaining more about the herbs and why they’re being used. Whilst patients should be allowed to choose whether or not they take herbs whilst in hospital, the situation can become awkward and is best managed through open communication between all parties.

Can I use herbs instead of my conventional medication?

I always recommend that at least to begin with you continue with your current medication, whilst the herbs have a chance to get things working more normally again. Sometimes it’s possible to slowly reduce conventional medication using herbal medicine, or even to come off it completely. However, this should only be done after a full consultation with a Medical Herbalist, who will assess your current medication and if possible, gradually help reduce your dosage as your health improves.

Are herbs safe to use whilst pregnant or breast feeding?.

Some herbs are beneficial during pregnancy or breast feeding and others are potentially harmful. Please ask me or your local Herbalist for further advice.

What happens during a herbal consultation with you?

We’d start the first consultation by talking about why you’ve decided to come for herbal treatment, looking in detail at the main health problems you have. I’d then ask you a number of questions to get an overall picture of your health, such as how often you catch colds, and how well you sleep. I might also ask to take your blood pressure, listen to your chest, or take your pulse before we discuss your diagnosis and treatment plan. The first consultation takes about an hour, after which I’ll mix together some herbs for you to take home. You’ll then be asked to come back in 1-2 weeks for about 30 minutes, just to see how you’re getting on, and we’ll make any changes to your prescription if necessary. After that usually patients need to come back every 5-6 weeks, but those with more severe problems may need to visit more often. Like most herbalists, I often recommend self-help measures such as minor dietary changes, or relaxation exercises. We’ll agree a plan that you can realistically incorporate into your life, and monitor your progress as time goes on. With your agreement I may write to your Doctor, or consult with other Herbalists in order to give you the best possible standard of care. This is all included in the cost of the consultation. 

What forms of herbal preparations do you prescribe?

For the most part I prescribe tinctures to be taken internally, as they're a very convenient way of taking herbs in the busy lives we lead nowadays. Externally I prescribe creams, and can order other forms of medicine in especially for you if I need to.

What training have you had in Herbal Medicine?

After qualifying in Reiki in 1993, I went on to study for an Honours Degree in Herbal Medicine at Middlesex University. This was a pioneering course in Western Herbal Medicine, being the first course of its kind to be run in a british university. With forthcoming EU legislation likely to affect how we work in complementary medicine, it was decided to make this a BSc course. Over four years we covered subjects such as:

• Anatomy & physiology.
• Clnical & diagnostic skills.
• Herbal materia medica & therapeutics.
• Pharmacology & pharmacy.
• Ethics.

Since qualifying in 1999  I've attended various NIMH seminars as part of my Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Subjects include:

• Childhood vaccination.
• Herbal treatment of cancer patients.
• Herbal first aid.
• Tongue & pulse diagnosis.
• Herbal treatment of infants and elders.

Are Herbalists regulated?

The N.I.M.H is currently self-regulating in that its members are required to abide by a strict code of practice and ethics. There is a formal disciplinary procedure overseen by the N.I.M.H council for members who are thought not to be adhering to institute regulations. However, soon the practice of Western Herbal Medicine is going to be government regulated, and herbalists will need to be registered in the same way as nurses or midwives. In terms of the requirements for registration it seems at the moment that little or no change will be made, as the N.I.M.H already has very strict membership requirements. In the meantime it's a question of making sure that the Herbalist you see is trained and/or competent to treat you in the right way.

What if I want to just treat myself with remedies from the Health Food Shop?

It’s a tempting idea to try and save money by self-medicating using remedies from a Health Food Shop, but there are a few things to bear in mind. Legally a herbal manufacturer cannot make a specific claim for what the remedy does, but they can say something like 'traditionally used for the treatment of coughs'. Likewise many herbal preparations available in the shops don't have clear information on the label about when they should be avoided, eg in high blood pressure. As Herbalists we would rather see clearer labelling about these contraindications, and of course be asked for advice if you need help. These days people working in health food shops are well trained to advise on the preparations they sell, but have not undergone the same formal medical training as a Medical Herbalist. In the same way you might get over the counter medicines from the pharmacy, but if you need further help you'd see your GP. Many people buy herbal remedies after seeing something in the news about a trial showing them to be effective for a certain ailment. The practise of Herbal Medicine is very complex, and the skill of the Herbalist lies in using the right herb for the patient at the right time. Two people seemingly suffering from the same symptoms may have completely different reasons behind them, and would be treated very differently if they saw the same herbalist. We also use different herbs at different stages of an illness depending on what’s needed. For example, we would not use Echinacea to treat someone who already has a cold, but we may use it to strengthen someone’s immunity and help protect them from colds. Even if you don’t want to come for a full consultation, most Herbalists will give some free advice, or a short consultation at low cost, which is well worth having. GP’s and Health Shop staff have a very limited knowledge of herbal medicine in comparison to a qualified Herbalist, so it’s always worth asking the experts if you need any advice. 

I live too far away from Sale, so where can I find my local Herbalist?

Seeing a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) will mean that your Herbalist:

• Is fully trained and competent to practise.
• Is insured and regulated by the NIMH.
• Is required to undergo post-graduate training as part of their continuing professional development.

You can find your nearest NIMH herbalist by:

Looking for someone with 'MNIMH or FNIMH' after their name under the Herbalists heading in your Yellow Pages.

Going to www.nimh.org.uk > find a herbalist