What happens during a consultation with a Medical Herbalist?
This is what you can expect when you make your first appointment with a Medical Herbalist: the first consultation is generally the longest as your Medical Herbalist takes a detailed medical history, covering not only your current complaint and medications, allergies and family history but also your diet and lifestyle. Physical examination may be necessary with sometimes blood pressure, pulse and urine and blood samples taken. The Medical Herbalist will then make a diagnosis based on the findings and where necessary they may make referrals. A programme of herbal treatment is then discussed and agreed with the patient, including an indication of how long the treatment period may be, and the level of treatment required. The duration and intensity of the herbal treatment varies according to the condition. You may be helped with changes to diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
An individually designed herbal prescription is then formulated and dispensed with appropriate instructions.
Your Medical Herbalist will also make suggestions about other treatments if appropriate (e.g. osteopathy, counselling, massage etc.). Your progress is reviewed at intervals and reassessed and your herbal medicine prescription changed to reflect the changes in your physiology.
Click on Find a Medical Herbalist to find your local Medical Herbalist
To find out more on training to be a Medical Herbalist click on Training and Accreditation
