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The benefits of
herbal medicine
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Benefits of a consultation with the Medical Herbalist...
Click on a link or scroll down:
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Herbal Medicine Pages |
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The benefits |
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Time to discuss your condition
At last someone who will listen!
Unlike a visit to your GP, you won't be rushed. The initial consultation lasts 1 hour. There is time to discuss your current symptoms, past medical history and family medical background in order to find the root causes of whatever it is that is troubling you. Many patients comment on how much they appreciate the time taken to properly consider their condition.
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Medically trained practitioner
Confidence that you are in safe hands:
Of all the alternative therapies Medical Herbalism stands apart* in requiring all practitioners to be trained in modern medical sciences: anatomy, physiology, pathology, clinical diagnosis, pharmacology etc as well as materia medica (the herbs and their therapeutic properties), and to be compentent in using standard diagnostic procedures such as taking blood pressure, listening to the heart and lungs, and looking in ears and eyes and so forth, much as your GP would.
Medical Herbalists have a very good diagnosis rate often spotting mis-diagnoses that GPs have made, or picking up on something that has been overlooked, or thought to be unimportant.
We are able to explain medical jargon in down-to-earth English, clarifying any diagnosis or drugs you have been given by your doctor or consultant, and explaining the reasoning behind our recommendations so that you feel informed and empowered. Where required we are able to correspond with your GP or consultant so that a joined up approach can be developed.
The training course that Medical Herbalists undertake is usually four years full time, at degree level, plus a further two years supervision under an experienced practitioner.
*Some schools of homeopathy require medical training, but the majority do not.
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Personal care and attention
We treat the patient, not just the disease:
Medical conditions are individual. Five patients presenting with headaches would probably require five different prescriptions. By starting with a detailed discussion and diagnosis we establish the background factors and physiological weaknesses of each patient. A tailored herbal prescription can then be made to address the main condition and the background contributory factors too. In this way we aim to bring about a long term improvement in health, treating the patient, not just the disease.
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Sustainable, plant based medicines:
At Rosemary Cottage Clinic we make up and dispense most prescriptions on the premesis. These can be in the form of tinctures, teas, creams, herb juices or capsules.
We use only herbal medicines made exclusively from plant material*. Wherever possible we source organic, sustainably cultivated herbs. We do not use wild-harvested herbs or endangered species. We never use 'over-the-counter' herbal medicines, nor do we recommend them - as Medical Herbalists we believe that herbal medicines should be selected and combined to suit the individual's needs, not given as a fixed formula for a particular condition.
Properly prescribed herbal medicine has a very low incidence of side effects. On the rare occasions when side effects do occur they are short term and self-limiting. Patients can simply telephone the clinic if they experience any unexpected reactions.
*unlike some Traditional Chinese Medicine which contains animal parts or raw minerals
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Helping you back to health:
We offer ongoing follow-up and support as appropriate.
Depending on the condition being treated a follow-up consultation takes place, usually 2-3 weeks after the initial visit. At this point progress is assessed and the medicine is modified or repeated, usually for a longer period. Each case is, of course, dealt with individually.
Some acute diseases require closer monitoring which can often be done simply by regular telephone consultations. In longer term conditions follow up appointments or repeat prescriptions may only be necessary every few months.
Returning patients
As each patient's notes are filed at the clinic, they can return at any time in the future, even for help with a completely new condition. Unless there has been considerable changes to their medical history they can usually be seen in a 1/2 hour follow-up consultation, without needing another 'initial consultation'.
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Better medicine for all round health:
Herbal medicine and its practioners have a very good reputation. Most of our patients experience positive results, including one or more of the following:
- full recovery
- dramatic improvement in some or all symptoms
- reduction in severity of primary symptoms
- long term control of their condition
- unexpected improvements in overall health/vitality
- a positive change in their outlook and wellbeing
Like all forms of medicine there can be no guarantee of complete cure. However, with Herbal Medicine, prescribed by a qualified practitioner, many patients make significant progress.
Plant medicine has evolved alongside human development on earth, and so it will come as no surprise to learn that in all cultures in all eras, in all parts of the world, medicinal plants have been used, and are still used, to treat disease, accidents or states of mind effectively.
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