ABOUT MEDICAL HERBALISM

Do herbal medicines take a long time to work?

Is there anything a herbalist cannot treat?

What is the NZ Association of Medical Herbalists?

If you have any other questions about herbal medicine, please contact Sara on herbalists@marchingcubes.com

Please note, she can only answer general questions about herbal medicine through this website. Specific health problems can only be addressed during a consultation.

WHAT IS A MEDICAL HERBALIST?

Medical herbalists are health practitioners who use medicines based on plant extracts to treat disease, and to promote and restore health. They have a holistic approach to each patient, attempting to gain an insight into the person as an integrated whole. The herbalist will often also recommend dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as prescribing tailor-made herbal remedies. The treatment recommended will be unique to each patient. Medical herbalists can work with conventional medicines ensuring that herbal prescriptions are appropriate, safe and effective.

Modern herbalists take a four-year degree programme during which time they study the philosophy and therapeutics of herbal medicine, medical sciences, herbal pharmacology, physical examination and diagnostic skills. Before being able to practice, they are required to undertake rigorous clinical training under expert supervision. Registered medical herbalists belong to recognised professional bodies that monitor their members' activities and ensure the updating of knowledge through research and continuing professional education.

Modern medical herbalism combines the best of traditional knowledge and modern research, to provide safe, natural and effective health care.

HOW CAN MEDICAL HERBALISM HELP ME?

Medical herbalism can help with a wide range of health problems.

Problems that respond well to herbal medicine include:

Digestive problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers or constipation,
Joint problems, such as arthritis,
Menstrual or menopausal problems, such as painful, heavy or irregular periods, hot flushes or fertility problems,
Nervous system problems, such as headaches, migraines, anxiety or depression,
Immune system problems, such as auto-immune diseases, chronic or recurrent infections and allergies, chronic fatigue,
Respiratory system problems, such as asthma, bronchitis or COPD,
Skin problems, such as eczema, psoriasis or acne,
Cardiovascular problems, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or varicose veins,
and much more

Sara is able to work safely with people taking conventional medicines, or who may wish to avoid conventional medications, such as HRT.

HOW DO HERBAL MEDICINES WORK?

Herbal medicines work with the body to encourage healing and promote health. A medical herbalist aims to restore normal functioning, not just to relieve symptoms.

Herbal medicines are extracts of whole plants, or parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers, berries, roots, seeds or barks. These extracts contain hundreds of constituents. Some plant constituents have been isolated and used as drugs. For example, salicylic acid from willow bark is made into aspirin. However, drugs that are made from single chemicals have adverse effects and can be dangerous.

Research supports the belief that using the whole plant is safer, more balanced and effective. In many plants, constituents that could cause adverse effects in isolation are balanced and safe in the whole plant. The complexity of constituents in whole plant remedies means that many remedies have a variety of actions. For example, chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) is anti-inflammatory, healing, anti-spasmodic, relaxing and improves digestion. This makes it ideal for problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.

A medical herbalist prescribes herbs that have complementary actions, in combinations specifically tailored for your individual needs.

ARE HERBAL MEDICINES COMPLETELY SAFE?

Herbal medicines are generally safe, especially when prescribed by a qualified medical herbalist, however, some can be dangerous if taken in the wrong dose, or combined with certain prescription drugs. If you are taking medicines prescribed by your doctor, it is best to consult a registered medical herbalist before trying herbal treatment for any condition. They will be aware of all current research findings and therefore what is or is not safe when combining orthodox and herbal treatments.

Some herbs are not safe during pregnancy or breastfeeding. So again, a herbalists' advice is the safest.

Many herbal remedies are safe and gentle for treating small children but professional assessment is needed to decide which herbs are appropriate and what the correct dosage is.

DO HERBAL MEDICINES TAKE A LONG TIME TO WORK?

It depends on the problem and the individual being treated. Some problems respond very quickly to herbal medicines and some take time. In general, acute or recent problems can improve more quickly than long-standing ones. As medical herbalists are often treating conditions that have been a problem for a long time, it can take a while for the remedies to work. It is not uncommon for symptoms to be relieved quite quickly. However, it may be necessary to take the remedy for several weeks or months to get a full resolution of the problem.

IS THERE ANYTHING A HERBALIST CANNOT TREAT?

Herbal medicine can be very helpful for a wide range of health problems, either alone or alongside orthodox medical treatment. But a medical herbalist is not a substitute for Accident and Emergency. A medical herbalist may perform basic diagnostic procedures similar to those employed by doctors and will refer the patient to his or her GP for further tests if necessary. A medical herbalist will always act in the patient's best interests and refer him or her for conventional medical care where this will have a better outcome.

WHAT IS THE NZ ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL HERBALISTS?

The NZAMH is the professional body for medical herbalists in New Zealand. It maintains a register of medical herbalists of skill and repute, fosters a uniformly high standard for teaching and practising herbal medicine. It ensures ongoing professional development for its members and promotes herbal medicine to the public and other health professionals.

Members of the NZAMH are all fully qualified medical herbalists, abide by a code of ethics and maintain ongoing professional education. They use the letters MNZAMH after their name.

For more information, see the NZAMH website - www.nzamh.org.nz