Why have a Herbal consultation? Firstly- it's the legal requirement + The process makes sure that you are using the right herbs for the ailment, with professional advice.
Marie Thomas, Qualified Medical Herbalist BSc (Hons), Member of College of Phytotherapy Practitioners, Dip.Phyt.
The first herbal consultation
The first herbal consultation process with you as a client, I go through a complete medical history, together with the presenting symptoms, which usually takes up to 1 hour. Included in the discussion are diet and lifestyle factors, which may have a bearing on the condition. I do ask the client to bring along with them any orthodox medicines that they are currently taking, as this may influence the herbal medicine I consider correct due to the possibility of certain herb/drug interactions. Also I like to have details of any vitamin/mineral supplements or herbal products that they may be taking.
A physical examination can be carried out, if necessary, and the client's pulse and blood pressure are measured as a matter of course. At the end of the herbal consultation, I make up a preparation for them, which may be in the form of tinctures, herbal glycerils, tea (dried herbs), capsules (EU certifed vegicaps) filled with powdered herb(s) or creams/ointments. If there is a choice of type of product, the client’s preferences are taken into account.
I usually make up a preparation to last 2-3 weeks, and see the client again after that time to assess the results of my work with them , and any diet/lifestyle changes that have been made. Whether or not any modification to the preparation is needed, the follow up herbal consultation is usually after 3-4 weeks. But if the preparation works as expected, then only a repeat preparation would be required and this can be communicated and ordered by telephone. In some cases, the effects occur after quite a short time, sometimes just a few days. However with some chronic conditions that have been ongoing for a long time, it may take much longer (2-3 months) for changes to become apparent. These changes, although taking longer than orthodox treatments, are usually longer lasting because herbal preparations act by helping the body balance itself by its own healing powers.
In some cases, if I believe that the condition is too serious to be covered by herbal medicine alone, I will refer the client back to their GP or other orthodox professional. In some cases, clients come to me after seeing no positive results from orthodox medicine. Herbal medicine can work in combination with orthodox treatment.
In the hands of a Qualified Medical Herbalist, such as myself, a client can be assured of natural help that is tailored to their own particular case, and is not a mass produced one. The process should involve the client, the medical herbalist and the herbal preparation, all working together to rebalance the body .
We give a 20%discounts in fees, to people on benefits + those under 18 years of age.
See the legal notes on Herbal consultations in the Legal requirements tab on the Herbal Product drop header.