Herbs
For Health |
Herbs
For Health |
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Plants have been used to heal since the first cave people gathered vegetation for their families – making herbalism the oldest form of medicine known to man. Today if we’re ill we’re more likely to go to the doctor or chemist than down the garden to find a remedy but this doesn’t mean that the old ways have been forgotten. Knowledge of the curative powers of certain plants has been passed down through centuries and is still the mainstay of many cultures. In ancient times herbalism was mixed with magic and superstition – today many traditionally used herbs have been put to the scientific test and been proven to possess remarkable healing powers. Whether you reach for the aspirin or the arnica using plants to treat disease is fundamental to both conventional and alternative medicine Interest in herbalism is on the increase with remedies now widely available in chemists. As a complementary therapy it’s regulated by The National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) which was established in 1864. Only graduates of accredited courses - usually four year university degree course in medical herbalism are accepted as members of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists - the oldest complementary health professional body, founded in 1864. Suffering from serious fatigue and bloating, I visited Medical Herbalist Sue Hawkey at Herbs for Health in Bath where she practices with her two colleagues Margaret MacMillan and Niall McNair. The practice has its own shop and dispensary containing shelves lined with glass bottles and jars of herbs for sale, natural beauty products and literature. Looking round I imagined that Sue would simply ask about my symptoms and dish out a suitable remedy… However walking into the treatment room was rather like visiting a doctor – apart from the pictures of herbs on the walls. I noted the bed for physical examinations, the stethoscope and the blood pressure equipment. Explained Sue, "Herbalists are knowledgeable about both plants and people – we’re also trained in medical sciences including diagnosis. We do urine tests and listen to chests, rather like a GP." After asking about my medical history, Sue looked in my eyes, at my tongue, took blood pressure and examined my bloated stomach. Tapping to test the liver and spleen – she discovered my liver was slightly swollen. She also asked about my diet which although fairly healthy contained too much wheat, chocolate, tea and coffee. This was resulting in a vicious cycle where I became tired in the afternoon, so had a quick burst of caffeine to stay awake, resulting in another slump later. I hadn’t realised that medical herbalism concentrated on diet and lifestyle as well and was glad of the diet sheet Sue gave me listing iron rich foods. "As a vegetarian you have to look at your protein intake– it’s often hard not to have a lot of dairy products – so you need to find other sources such as nuts and seeds," she advised. She also suggested keeping nuts in the car to curb my chocolate cravings and to make sure I had some protein for breakfast. Sue prescribed a mixture of herbs for me, including Berberis to aid digestion, Milk thistle and Schizandra for liver protection, Marigold - an anti-infective and Astragalis to strengthen the immune system. "With self-diagnosis and buying from the chemist you could take the wrong remedy – here you have a formula specially designed for you," she explained. I was anxious to know if there would be any side effects but Sue assured me of the safety of the mixture. "There have been no episodes of toxicity from Western herbs. Side effects tend to be minimal because they are so complex. Herbalists use the whole plant – unlike modern pharmaceutical drugs which take one part of the plant and can have a very strong effect," she said. Herbalists work alongside doctors – but unlike conventional medicine - rather than treating the symptoms alone, the remedies are used to restore the balance of the body to enable it to heal itself. This should improve health in the long term and boost the immune system. People flock to Sue with a whole range of conditions, many that haven’t been cured by orthodox medicine. Complaints range from chronic diseases like arthritis to skin and digestive problems. Herbs for Health also offers training courses to teach people more about using remedies at home, holistic nutrition and even runs herbal walks to identify medicinal plants in the wild. Clutching my bottle of herbal medicine which was supposed to last a few weeks, I left the practice feeling more optimistic. The tincture, which had to be diluted in water, tasted absolutely disgusting but I took it willingly. Despite fighting off an ear infection, after a week I started to feel more in balance and increasingly resilient to life’s challenges. I really looked at my diet, eating more fruit and veg, cutting down on the caffeine and switching to herbal teabags. On my second visit while sipping nettle tea, I told Sue I was actually feeling a lot better, and more buoyant than I’d been before – despite having been ill. Sue examined my ears and found the original infection had gone but my other ear was slightly inflamed. She advised me to keep an eye on it and go to my GP if worried. This time she gave me medicine to combat infection which included Artemesia annua (sweet wormwood) said to help malaria, the Chinese tonic herb Withania and the popular Echinacea. She also recommended putting garlic juice on cotton wool in my ear. Sue talked to me about my lifestyle and perfecting the art of relaxation as she felt I was running on adrenaline which was probably adding to my exhaustion. I left feeling I’d been to a doctor, therapist and counsellor all rolled into one… Needless to say, this medicine tasted viler than the first bottle – but
as I continue to dose myself every day I’m feeling far more relaxed and
calm and I do have more of a spring in my step…
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