Consultations

Herbal Medicine

The first visit, which takes up to an hour and a half, is a full clinical consultation, including the patient's medical history, family history, lifestyle, diet, known allergies, blood pressure check and simple diagnostic examinations. Patients should bring along a list of any prescription and over-the-counter medications they are taking as well as any vitamins, supplements and other herbal preparations, and copies of recent laboratory tests if available.

The medicine is tailored to the individual's complaint. It is usually prescribed as tinctures (alcohol-based extracts) to be taken with water, but can also include dried herbs for teas, juices, syrups, tablets, external lotions and creams.

Patients also receive advice on diet, lifestyle, exercise and other potentially beneficial therapies. Trained herbalists recognise the limitations of herbal medicine and will not hesitate to refer patients to other specialists or to their GP for more appropriate treatment or tests.

Follow-up visits, usually at two- to four-week intervals, last about half an hour. The medication may be altered as treatment progresses. The length of treatment depends on the type, severity and length of condition.