Conditions Treated
Herbal medicine is the oldest system of medicine and uses plant remedies to treat illness and enhance well-being. Medical herbalists are trained in the same diagnostic skills as orthodox doctors, but take a more holistic view of ill health and seek to treat the underlying causes of disease rather than symptoms alone. Whereas modern pharmaceutical drugs are based on single chemical ingredients herbal medicines are extracted from part(s) of a whole plant in which active ingredients are naturally balanced and made more or less powerful by other substances present.
A patient is treated with a unique prescription made up of selected herbs to suit their particular condition. Dietary and lifestyle advice may also be provided where appropriate. The herbal remedies may be in the form of tinctures (plants extracted in alcohol or glycerol), juices, herbal teas, syrups, creams or capsules. The herbs used are organically grown where possible and are never taken from the wild if the herb is in any way endangered. They do not contain any animal products and have not been tested on animals.
Herbal medicine is a gentle form of treatment which it is possible to use alongside many other orthodox treatments. Some examples of common complaints which may be successfully treated with herbal remedies are listed below:
Skin
Psoriasis, acne, eczema, fungal conditions.
Digestion
Peptic ulcers, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and indigestion.
Heart and Circulation
High and low blood pressure, heart problems, angina, varicose veins, poor circulation.
Respiratory System
Sinustitis, rhinitis, hay fever, asthma, chronic bronchitis, tonsillitis, colds and flu.
Nervous System
Stress, panic attacks, headaches, migraines, insomnia, mild to moderate depression.
Muscles and Joints
Arthritis.
Genito-urinary
Cystitis, prostate problems.
Reproductive System
PMT, amenorrhoea, painful and irregular periods, infertility, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, thrush, menopausal symptoms.