Herbal Medicine

Western herbal medicine is characterised by a person-centred approach, where the patient rather than the disease is the focus of the practitioner’s attention.

The patient

is assessed through a thorough case history, taking account of family history, personal health history and lifestyle choices.

The therapy

is directed at the causes, not just the presenting symptoms. Treating the body as a whole involves working not only with the physical, but also the mental and emotional aspects.

The practitioner

uses the information obtained during the taking of the case history to make an assessment of the vitality and constitution of the patient.  The choice of herbs in the prescription is based on this assessment.

The prescription

rather than being based simply on the diagnosis of a disease or condition, is determined by an understanding of the significance of the signs and symptoms in that individual. Prescriptions may vary substantially between individual patients apparently presenting with a similar condition.

Herbal treatment

is commonly backed up by appropriate advice on lifestyle, particularly nutrition, and the practitioner works at all times to create a positive ambience of mutual trust in the therapeutic relationship.