What do you treat?

Herbs and nutrition can be used in a supportive way for many health concerns. Typically most problems you might take to a GP or primary health care provider can also be seen in a herbal medicine clinic. Medicines and food suggestions will be designed to work alongside your conventional care and medication.

Below are five basic approaches commonly used to improve health – have a look and think about your practices or routines in each area. When there are problems we should consider what is missing in our approach.

For many, using herbal medicine and nutrition in a focused way to balance and regulate their own individual physiology and constitution, are the missing elements.

What we take in provides the foundational elements for our cells to regulate and regenerate everything. Our body is constantly remodelling itself, though it slows in later life. If this principle is neglected it can mean greater likelihood of imbalance or dysregulation over time. And if there is disease, symptoms may worsen or become chronic.

Scroll down to read more about specific health conditions treated in a herbal medicine clinic.

Five elements of health shown by five interlocking circles

What is treated in a herbal medicine clinic?

Botanicals and foods can be carefully selected to support the health concerns described below, with the aim of nourishing your body, improving terrain and balancing internal processes to encourage health and regulation.

Using these methods alongside your other health practices will often give the best outcomes – whether that’s having less digestive distress, better sleep, more energy or reduced chronic pain.

Herbal medicine is safe medicine with few side effects. However, there are some instances when using herbs as sole treatment for a health condition won’t be appropriate or safe. If you’re unsure Contact Me and we can discuss your personal circumstances.

If you want to learn more about how this all works sign up to my newsletter for my Free Herbal Foundations Pack which includes a 30 minute webinar on the approach.

Digestive complaints

Herbs and bitters can help with indigestion, IBS, IBD, acid reflux, nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and an irritable or inflamed gut. The microbiome can be supported after infection or antibiotics.

Mood and Stress

Botanicals can support our nervous system to lift low mood or depression. They can calm and ease anxiety, panic, nervousness or restlessness. Or help memory, focus and concentration in brain fog.

Fatigue and energy

Herbal medicine can support fatigue and lack of mental or physical energy. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is treated with nourishing herbs. The body’s response to external stressors can be supported.

Poor sleep

Herbs are very beneficial in improving insomnia. For example helping with difficulty getting to sleep, frequent waking, restlessness, an overactive mind or not feeling rested on waking.

Neurological issues

Herbs can help with neurological conditions including headaches, nerve pain or neuropathy. Neurodegenerative conditions like MS, Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s can be supported in an integrative way.

Hormonal balance

Plants can help with healthy hormone expression in the body and so support diabetes and metabolic disease. PCOS and cortisol, pituitary or thyroid issues can be supported with herbs.

Reproductive Health

Herbs can benefit PMS or PMDD, heavy, painful or irregular periods and endometriosis or fibroids. Fertility can be encouraged and postpartum health supported.

Menopause

Botanicals can help manage peri-menopause and menopausal symptoms including mood disturbance, brain fog, hot flushes or night sweats and vaginal issues.

Immunity

Herbs can enhance immune cell function, improve resilience to infection and support recuperation. Post-viral fatigue, Long Covid and ME are commonly treated.

Autoimmunity or Allergy

Plants and mushrooms are associated with supporting a range of autoimmune conditions and are effective in modulating allergic response and chronic inflammation.

Airways and lungs

Anti-viral herbs have been shown to reduce cold and flu severity and duration. Cough and respiratory symptoms can be treated and asthma or COPD can be supported.

Urinary problems

Herbs can improve UTI symptoms and help prevent recurring infection. They can help an overactive bladder. In men herbs can treat BHP or prostate enlargement.

Arthritis

Both internal and external herbal treatments can help with the joint pain, stiffness and inflammation experienced in osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

Bone health

Herbs and nutrition can benefit osteoporosis and maintaining bone health and strength in later life. Exercise also helps support healthy bones and muscle.

Muscle pain or injury

Herbal remedies can ease muscular pain and relax tension or spasm. They can aid recovery from sports injuries, RSI or damaged tendons and ligaments.

Skin, hair, nails

Herbs help with underlying causes of eczema, psoriasis or acne, whilst topical treatments can ease redness, itch and rash. Plants can encourage tissue repair and so aid healing of minor or major wounds.

Heart problems

Herbal medicine can be used to steady and calm a fast heart rate and treat palpitations or chest pain. Herbs can support the coronary arteries and be an adjunct where there is a weak or failing heart.

Blood and circulation

Botanicals help nourish and build the blood, including reducing cholesterol or improving iron levels. Blood vessel health and circulation can be supported, helping poor blood flow or varicose veins.