Herbal medicine is perhaps a misnomer because it is not just herbs but the fruits, roots, seeds and leaves of a wide range of plants that make up the herbalist’s extensive pharmacopoeia.  Herbal medicine uses plants to promote optimum health and to prevent and treat disease.  It is founded on the principle of using the whole plant (not isolated constituents) to treat the whole person.  Its aim is to create deep and lasting health improvements in a safe, gentle but effective way working with the body’s own innate healing capacities to strengthen and balance.  It is safe for everyone from the very young to the elderly.

It is the oldest form of medicine known (texts date from the time of the pharaohs but its origins go much further back) and is still the most widely practised form of medicine world-wide with over 80% of the world’s population still relying on herbs.  Some of the very plants used today were dispensed by the father of medicine, Hippocrates, including St John’s Wort.   Indeed it was not until the 1930s with the advent of drugs like antibiotics and corticosteriods that the study of plants and botany was dropped from the undergraduate curriculum of some medical schools. Modern herbal medicine combines the traditional wisdom gained over countless generations with evidence based scientific research to provide the best possible solution for each individual patient.

Many of today's drugs were sourced from plants however drug companies often extracted just one of the pharmacological constituents present whereas herbalists believe in the synergy of the whole plant.  A good example is Dandelion leaf, a potent diuretic.  Unlike many diuretic drugs it does not work by irritating the kidneys (hence the need for annual kidney function tests for those on such drugs) and, because it naturally contains potassium, the body is not depleted in this vital mineral, a common side effect of diuretic use.

Herbal medicine can treat all the same conditions, both chronic and acute, that are commonly presented to GPs. - joint problems, skin disorders such as psoriasis, acne and eczema, allergies, infections, high blood pressure, circulatory problems including varicose veins and ulcers, gynaecological complaints, stress, insomnia, migraine and IBS are just a few examples. Some plant medicines have significant interactions with drugs, for example St John’s Wort, and so medical herbalists always take into account pre-existing medical conditions and all medications, prescribed and otherwise, when deciding on a herbal prescription. Professional advice will ensure safe, complementary remedies are identified.

Medical herbalists do not simply dispense remedies - a complete treatment may also include dietary and lifestyle advice tailored to the patient’s needs. Healing is a partnership between the patient, practitioner and the herbs. The first consultation typically lasts an hour during which a detailed case history is recorded and, if required, a physical examination is undertaken.  Blood pressure, weight and height are measured plus other diagnostic procedures as appropriate, e.g. urinary analysis, lung function tests.  The follow up appointment is normally after 2 weeks with any subsequent consultations following monthly to allow time for treatments to take affect.  There can be no hard and fast rule about the length of treatment but generally the longer you have suffered from compliant the longer it will take the body to heal itself. Children, with their dynamic metabolism, usually respond very quickly to herbal medicine.  Degenerative conditions, such as oestoarthritis, cannot be cured but permanent low dose herbal medicine can relieve symptoms, improve the quality of life and reduce the need to take conventional drugs, beneficial in itself given their many unpleasant side-effects.  In this example regular visits would not be necessary once a successful treatment regime was achieved but a repeat prescription for medicines with bi-annual consultations to review the situation.

The herbal treatment may be given in the form of: -

¨       Tinctures, these are taken with water or added to juice, a teaspoon three times daily

¨       Creams, especially for joint and skin problems,

¨       Teas, to drink or even bathe in!

¨       Syrups, usually for coughs and sore throats

¨       Capsules containing dried herbs

¨       Pessaries or suppositories for local conditions such as thrush or haemorrhoids.

Wherever possible, those used at St Ives Complementary Health are prepared using organic plants and always with plants from sustainably managed sources.

For more information contact the National Institute of Medical Herbalists www.nimh.org.uk

Medicinal Herb Garden at St Ives Complementary Health:

BLACK COHOSH –SAFETY ISSUES

You may have since recent press reports about safety concerns for Black Cohosh used by many women to control hot flushes.  There have been cases of liver problems in a few individuals.

IMPORTANT FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW

   TOXCITY from Black Cohosh is very rare - 31 possible cases out of 9 million treatment days from over the counter sales. Of these 31 cases all but 4 individuals were already taking other medication for liver disease. 

   All the cases were individuals taking over the counter (OTC) products. They had not received professional medical advice before using the product.

   It has been shown in tests that not all OTC medications sold as Black Cohosh contain only Cimicfuga racemosa  (which is becoming endangered in the wild) but are mixtures of other related plants – this raises further safety issues.

THEREFORE FOR YOUR SAFETY

DO NOT TAKE Black Cohosh if:

    you have had, or are currently suffering from, hepatitis or any other liver disease

    you regularly consume, or have in the past consumed, more than the recommended levels of alcohol

    are taking any medication for liver problems

NOTE: THERE ARE MANY OTHER HERBAL COMBINATIONS THAT CAN SUCCESSFULLY HELP RELIEVE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE MENOPAUSE –ASK YOUR HERBALIST

IF IN DOUBT Seek trained professional help by consulting a medical herbalist

USE ONLY confirmed and tested products – (all the black Cohosh used by Julie Dore MNIMH is grown at an organic farm in Rutland and is regularly tested for its level of active ingredients)

If you require any information please call us on 01480 492088