Flower & Root Philosophy and Approach

My philosophy

I think you may be here because you have a health problem and have already tried and exhausted various approaches already, or found the NHS hasn’t solved your issue.

Conventional medicine doesn’t spell out its philosophy, but it could be said to be something like: we have a protocol to follow with few exceptions, there is a focus on medications for diagnosed conditions, singular interventions and quick fixes, and we can’t operate outside this framework (or there is a risk of complaint).

So don’t ditch the doctor, but understand what they do. And know its not what I do.

We can’t discount conventional medicine. But the approach tends to suppress symptoms rather than solving underlying problems or deficiencies. And doesn’t always help a person find their natural regulation or look at things in a joined up way – systems in the body are very interconnected, one thing will influence another. The culture can also lead to reductionist ‘magic bullet’ thinking – the idea there is a singular cure, or cause, for each problem, and it may prevent us from considering and integrating other valid options.

What I’ve frequently found is that focused nutrition and herbal medicine are the overlooked pillars of health, and are the foundational elements that are missing. They are also largely ignored in conventional medicine.

Commonly people will try medication or over-the-counter supplements first. They may follow helpful lifestyle practices like meditation or exercise. But the health issue still emerges or comes back, or worst case becomes a chronic struggle.

You’re not alone here, our capitalist society means many of us don’t have the time to focus on our health. We have busy jobs and commutes, we are mums, dads or care givers to others, or have commitments in the community. All alongside the daily chores, cooking, cleaning, maintenance of modern life. It can be hard to make ends meet, or to even access healthy food options or quality medicinal herbs.

Being unwell can throw us off kilter, we don’t know what is happening, it can be scary. We may have repeated appointments, lots of information to sift through and take in, whilst also dealing with daily pain, flare ups, fatigue or other debilitating, irritating symptoms that interrupt our lives.

If you’re unwell, starting with herbs to help balance your physiology and nutrition as a base, gives us a solid foundation to build on.

Nutrition provides the fundamentals for our cells to thrive, repair and regenerate. Whilst herbal medicine, rather than silencing symptoms, can help nourish as well as nudging neurotransmitters, hormones, inflammation, pain and niggling symptoms back towards regulation. Herbs can also help hold that balance, avoiding symptoms worsening or setting in.

I would argue that BETTER patient outcomes are achieved when herbal medicine and nutrition are put into place alongside the other elements.

My philosophy, and that of herbal medicine, encourages a slower pace of healing, which considers how to resolve issues more deeply. Plants also tend to work by broader and slower mechanisms of action than drugs. Sometimes there will be a process of trying different options and learning what works and what doesn’t. It may take some time to unpack this complexity, but it’s often this way that allows someone to find lasting balance and wellbeing.

My approach

So how will I approach your health issue in practice?

My values of balance, personalisation, whole plant medicine and health empowerment (which you can read more on here) are infused into my approach and the way I practice, they are not just buzz words on paper.

I absolutely believe in trying to achieve natural regulation and balance of the body, and I do this by a fuller consultation, which considers how the systems in the body are related. I listen and look out for your symptoms, the nature and nuance of the problem and ask questions to rule things out. This is the basis from which I then select the most appropriate range of herbs and nutrition, to work in synergy with your concerns. It’s an approach rooted in both tradition and science, holding historical knowledge alongside modern clinical understanding and research. The consultation and approach can also be said to share some similarities to functional medicine.

If this feels new, extended, or you aren’t keen on the spotlight, I get you. We are used to brief five minute GP appointments. But this is not enough time to explore symptom patterns and health holistically and meaningfully. Nor to be able to choose the most appropriate herbal medicine for you individually. In my clinic no one receives the same prescription, though they may share a condition. You can learn more about this practically on the consultation page.

I ask clients to share what they are comfortable with, and explain that though there are questions, there is no judgement and its fully confidential. The questions are also for you – to help you better understand your health, empower you to know where symptoms may emerge and to notice the areas that are in good health too.

I also like knowing my clients as individuals – your lifestyle, favourite foods or flavours, dislikes, interests. It means I can suggest options that are most likely to suit you.

I don’t offer an over-the-counter pharmacy service. But once we’ve had a first consultation I can provide repeat dispensing without a full consultation for conditions that are self-limiting, that is ones that tend to resolve on their own, ie. bouts of indigestion, period pain or disrupted sleep (so long as it’s safe).