Your first consultation will usually take an hour or more as your medical herbalist finds out about your current health complaint and takes a detailed medical history from you.
Your medical history will include information on allergies, family history, diet and lifestyle. If necessary, your herbalist may make a physical examination and check your pulse and blood pressure. If appropriate, they may also ask for urine or blood samples, just as if you were at the doctors.
Your herbalist will then make a diagnosis based on what they have found. They may refer you on to another practitioner, or back to your GP if they feel it is necessary. They will then discuss a programme of herbal treatment with you and go over how long they think the treatment may take and the level of treatment required. These things will all vary depending on your condition. They may also discuss changes to your diet, exercise regime and lifestyle and agree goals with you.
Your herbalist will then make up a herbal prescription designed just for you and will dispense this with any instructions you may need.
A follow up consultation will usually take less time (typically around 30 minutes) and your herbalist will assess your progress and may make changes to your herbal prescription if required.
Want to find out more? Find your local herbalist.
