- OR -

Advanced Search

 Healing Systems

•	Animal/Pet Therapies
•	Ayurveda
•	Bach Flower Remedies
•	Energy Healing
•	Energy Psychology
•	Herbal Medicine
•	Homeopathy
•	Chiropractic
•	Massage Therapy
•	Naturopathy
•	Traditional Chinese Medicine

 In this section:

•	What is Herbal Medicine
•	Where Did it Originate
•	What Can I Expect
•	Frequency & Cost
•	Gathering and Storing Herbs
•	Preparation Methods
•	*Herbs & Medicinal Trees*
•	Commonly Used Terms
•	Potentially Dangerous Herbs
•	Choosing a Practitioner
•	What Are the Benefits
•	Herbal Medicine as a Career
•	Herbal Medicine Associations
•	Herbal Medicine Schools
•	Herbal Medicine Practitioners

 Your Tools:

	Print this page
	Email this page
	Search Herbal Medicine articles
	Submit your own article
	Sign up as a practitioner

Herbal Medicine

What Can I Expect During a Treatment?

An initial consultation with a herbalist will be detailed and will take approximately 1 hour. The herbalist will discuss your medical history, diet and lifestyle, as well as any medications currently being taken. Any symptoms and conditions will be discussed. A full physical examination will also be conducted which often includes taking your blood pressure and pulse, and taking blood/urine samples.

Based on the diagnosis, the herbalist will then prescribe specific herbs or a compound of several herbs. These herbs will be recommended in a specific form, ranging from fluid extract, tincture, capsules, or even bulk herb (which can be taken with tea). The herbs are usually taken over a period of several weeks. The herbalist, with your involvement, develops a program which integrates herbalism with other lifestyle changes to address health concerns from a holistic perspective, and not simply to treat the condition. Dietary changes, nutritional supplements, exercise, and other therapies may also be recommended in conjunction with taking the herbs. Herbal supplements may also be recommended and prepared.

The herbalist will schedule follow-up appointments to review your progress, any changes in condition, and to adjust the herbal remedies if necessary. The number of appointments will vary and are dependent on the condition treated, and to what degree the condition is chronic.

Improvement is usually experienced within a short period of time (1-3 weeks), especially with more acute conditions. It may, however, take several weeks before noticeable difference is experienced with more chronic conditions.

The success of herbal treatment depends on several factors, including how long the condition has existed, the severity of the condition, the dosage of the herb(s) and how diligently treatment plans are followed. Relief can be felt in as little as several minutes when taking a preparation for bloating and gas, or several weeks for chronic conditions which have existed for years as the herbs stimulate the healing process and cellular renewal.

Can Herbs be Taken with Vitamins?
As some vitamins can lessen the effect of herbs and vice versa, it is recommended to take them separately, waiting at least 1-2 hours after taking one before taking the other.

Self Application
Many individuals self prescribe herbs which are commonly found in health food stores after reading books and study courses on herbal medicine. Without education and experience, no-one can predict exactly which herb will work best for which individual in all situations, and in what amount, and using what method of preparation. This knowledge comes with extensive education, self-experimentation, and from working with qualified herbal practitioners.

For more complex health issues that are chronic and longstanding, it is recommended to always work with an experienced herbalist. Some herbs which are considered very safe may be considered toxic in larger doses or should not be taken concurrently with some conventional medications. Even the safest herbs can interact with conventional medications rendering them either ineffective or producing unpleasant side effects. For example, certain herbs will stimulate uterine contractions and cause miscarriage if taken during pregnancy. Ephedra became an extremely popular herb for weight loss to reduce appetite and increase metabolism. Though effective for many people in weight loss, ephedra taken in large doses, or by individuals with certain medical conditions or in conjunction with other medicines, can cause heart failure and death.

view all Herbal Medicine articles...