What happens during a herbal consultation?

A herbalist begins by asking about your presenting complaint and then about your medical history from birth to the present day. They might ask about conditions that run in your family - like heart disease, or cancer. They will then work through every system in your body asking questions about each one.

Why do they do this?

A herbalist looks for patterns of illness in your medical history. They try to determine your underlying constitution. Are you usually a hot person, or a cold one? Do you tend to dryness or moisture? Where does illness manifest in you most often - coughs and colds, stomach upsets, anxiety and insomnia?

Finding the answers to these questions will help the herbalist to determine the root cause of your current state of health. Your constitution will determine how your body reacts to illness or stress.

What difference does a constitution make?

Perhaps you have been diagnosed with eczema. That seems straight forward, but why do you have it and what type do you have? Is it triggered by foods, environmental factors or stress? Is it dry, flakey, itchy and cold? Or is it weeping, hot, red and moist? Each condition needs to be treated in a different way. The dry, cold, flakey eczema needs to be warmed, moistened and healed. The hot, weepy eczema will be more prone to infection and needs cooling, drying and healing. Herbalists have a wide range of herbs at their disposal which means that they can pick the right herbs to treat you.

What happens next?

The herbalist asks about diet and lifestyle to see whether these factors might be having a negative effect on your health. They will check whether you have any allergies and if you are taking any other medication.

If appropriate, the herbalist might ask to carry out a clinical examination. Herbalists are taught the same methods as orthodox doctors and sit the same clinical examination exams (OSCE).

What is the medicine like?

Once the herbalist is satisfied that they understand the problem, they will write you a prescription and make up a medicine for you. Herbal medicines usually come as tinctures (alcohol extracts) or teas. Herbalists also make creams, lotions and ointments and may use glycerol extracts for children or for patients who do not wish to take alcohol.

How long will it take?

Initial consultations usually take an hour. Repeat visits are usually 3 weekly and last approximately 1/2 hr. A herbalist will usually make up the medicine for you immediately after your consultation, however occasionally they may wish to carry out further research and will then arrange to post your medicine to you.