Herbal medicine

Herbs as medicine

Plants have been our allies in health for thousands of years. Every culture has a history of using plants to both treat and prevent illness.

Tradition backed by science

Many of the traditional uses of herbs are now validated by modern scientific research. Some of the most well known include St John’s wort for mild to moderate depression and turmeric for osteoarthritis.

Everyday herbal medicine

The most basic form of herbal medicine is one you probably use every day in your food. Culinary herbs such as garlic, cinnamon, peppermint and chilli not only taste good, they keep you healthy.

Does herbal medicine work?

Yes, in the appropriate context. It can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions either on its own or to support conventional health care treatments. Always check with your health care professional as some herbs can interact with pharmaceutical medications. Herbal medicine is generally not appropriate for anything you would need to attend an emergency room at your local hospital.

What conditions can it treat?

Herbal medicine can treat acute conditions like colds and flu, period pain, urinary tract infections, bruising and grazes.

It can also be used to support chronic conditions such as anxiety, IBS, migraines, insomnia, acne, polycystic ovarian syndrome, blood pressure and many more.

Getting results with herbal medicine

Use a quality product

Unfortunately, the popularity of herbal medicine has a downside. Some unscrupulous manufacturers substitute cheaper herbs for more expensive ones. This means the product is ineffective, or, even worse potentially dangerous.

I source my herbal products from reputable Australian suppliers who have to comply with the good manufacturing practice guidelines of the Australian Therapeutic Goods Association. This means I can be confident of the quality and efficacy of the products I prescribe.

The right dose

Ever taken a product herbal product purchased at the supermarket and been less than impressed with the results? Perhaps it was because the dose was not appropriate for your needs. Likewise, some herbs have a very narrow dose range and can be harmful if taken in excess.

Working with a qualified herbalist/Naturopath allows them to assess your condition and prescribe the correct therapeutic dose.

The right herb

Herbs have hundreds of active constituents and it’s important to work with someone who has a deep knowledge of how they work in order to get the herb that matches both your symptoms and your physiology.

For example, Rhodiola and Ashwagandha are both adaptogenic herbs used to help reduce the effects of stress. However, Rhodiola can be stimulating whereas Ashwagandha is more relaxing. The art of herbalism is matching the personality of the herb with the personality of the patient!

How do I use herbal medicine?

Let me count the ways!

I see herbs as a bridge to help you get over the bumpy bits on the beginning of your health journey. This allows time and space to work on the more permanent diet and lifestyle changes.

Herbs have hundreds of active plant chemicals. They are complex, yet gentle medicines which help rebalance and restore your body.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some of my most frequently asked questions relating to herbal medicine. Not answered here? Head on over the the FAQ page.

Are you ready for better health?

Let’s get started.