Medical
Herbalism
Herbal medicine is the medicinal
use of healing plants. It is the oldest form of medicine used by man, and
even today, a large proportion of common drugs are still based on plant
constituents. However, a professional medical herbalist has a very different
approach from a conventional doctor.
Herbalists believe that the whole
plant possesses properties that are not shared by isolated constituents;
that the whole plant is greater than the sum of its parts. They use herbs
to adjust the imbalances which lead to illness, correcting the root cause
of a problem rather than simply subduing the symptoms. It is a truly holistic
form of medicine which can be used alongside other conventional or complementary
therapies.
All members of the National
Institute of Medical Herbalists have completed four or
five years of training in herbal medicine. They must hold full professional
insurance and are required to adhere to the Institute’s code of ethics.
A consultation
A consultation with a professional
medical herbalist can get to the root of an illness, so that the underlying
cause is treated, not just the symptoms. This can create a breakthrough
for illness that is not cured by either conventional medicine or self-treatment
with herbs or supplements
As it is
impossible to properly assess your needs without a face-to-face meeting,Robyn
James does not offer consultations over the internet. For any other information,
please see contact details.
A free
15 minute consultation is currently offered to new patients, to assess
whether herbal medicine could help you before the first consultation is
arranged. If Robyn decides that it is not appropriate for your problem,
she will usually suggest other more suitable therapies. The 15 minute consultation
is unnecessary if you are already sure that you will wish to proceed with
herbal treatment.
First consultations
usually last up to about an hour and a half. In that time, Robyn will take
an in-depth history covering the onset and progression of your current
and past problems, and start to assess the underlying state of your health.
On the
basis of this interview and any necessary diagnostic tests or examinations,
she will dispense a prescription of herb extracts. These may be in the
form of tinctures, teas, creams, oils, juices, baths, or a combination
of these.
The prescription
is most often a combination of several different herbs in varying proportions
as appropriate, to strengthen weak points and prevent powerful areas from
dominating the rest of the body. The herbal extracts are usually mixed
together for ease of use.
Herbs
are also used to treat infections or to soothe symptoms when appropriate,
as well as working at a deeper level to attack the root cause of a problem. Robyn
will also recommend dietary or lifestyle changes wherever these are necessary.
Finding
a professional medical herbalist
Ideally, you should ask friends
and acquaintances if they know of any good herbalists nearby.
If this draws a blank, look
for a local member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, who
will carry the letters MNIMH or FNIMH after their names.
All members of the Institute
have completed at least four years of training in herbal medicine, carry
full professional insurance and are required to adhere to a strict code
of ethics. Follow this link for a list
of members arranged geographically.
The other main professional
bodies are the International Register of Consultant Herbalists, The Register
of Chinese Herbal Medicine, The Association of Master Herbalists and the
Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine (UK).
About
Robyn James
Robyn
James BA(Oxon) MNIMH began to study the traditional uses of plants whilst living and
working on a historic wooden narrowboat about ten years ago.
Her particular interest in medicinal herbs led her to enrol on
a four year training course to become a professional medical herbalist.
After qualifying she joined the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, which was
established in 1864 and is the oldest body of professional herbalists in the western world.
Robyn now runs a busy practice in the
Hunters Bar area of Sheffield, where she
is also a partner in "Alton & James", a public dispensary selling herbal remedies and
natural skincare products with advice from professional herbalists always available.
Her main therapeutic interests are in the fields of Galenic theory and traditional Western medicine.
She is also a writer on natural health, producing various articles and a monthly herbal news round-up for ThinkNatural.com
Her regular articles can be found at 
Consultations or free 15 minute
discussions can be booked by phoning 0114 268 2468.
