Frequently Asked Questions
Is herbal medicine safe?
Yes, with the right advice from a properly trained and qualified herbal practitioner. It is tempting to treat yourself, using off the shelf herbal products purchased from a health shop. Sometimes this works well, especially for minor problems, but for chronic, complicated or stubborn illnesses, then it is best to consult a herbalist, who will be able to tailor the remedy exactly to fit your specific needs.
What are the side effects?
Generally, with herbal medicine, there are no side effects. Provided the right dose of the medicine is taken, you should notice no ill effects afterwards. Dosage is important, as in anything — even too much of something healthy like carrot juice would make you feel ill if you really overdid it. Herbs are active medicinal agents, so too much can make you feel bad, and too little can be no use, so you must follow the instructions given by the herbalist. Too much of something intended to help you relax and sleep well might leave you with a ‘hangover’ feeling the next morning, and too much of a herb intended to help with constipation would cause the opposite problem!
Occasionally, if you are on a detox programme of herbs and a healthy diet, especially if you have been eating and drinking a lot of very toxic food and drink, such as coffee, then you might experience headaches for a few days. Generally, though, the herbalist will advise you to make dietary changes gradually, in order to minimise discomfort.
Can I take herbal medicine if I am pregnant?
Some herbs are safe to take when you are pregnant and some are not — the herbalist is well aware of which are safe and which are to be avoided, so it is important to tell her if you think you might be pregnant, or if you are trying to get pregnant.
Can childen take herbal medicine?
Yes, at a reduced dose, children and even babies can benefit from the healing properties of herbs. For very young babies, there are safer ways than taking the herbs orally — such as putting an infusion in the bath, or giving the herbs to the mother to take, if she is breast-feeding. Herbal medicine can be very beneficial to help children to achieve good health that will then serve them for their whole life, as it removes the cause of illness and thus heals the child, rather than only treating symptoms, which allows the illness to continue, and necessitates the child taking long term medication.
Can I take herbs as well as my normal medicine from the GP?
Yes, usually — there are some herbs and drugs that do not mix, but the herbalist is aware of these and will advise accordingly. Hopefully, after taking the herbs for a while, you will find that you need less of your prescribed medication, and can ask for GP to reduce it.
Can you use herbal medicine for animals?
The herbalist does not treat animals — only specially trained animal herbal practitioners are allowed to do this.
Do you do home visits?
Yes, I am happy to come to see you if you cannot get to see me. If you live too far away, then I may be able to recommend a herbalist in your area.