Our Clinics
|
Herbalism Consultations Herbal medicine can be used alongside other treatments for a wide range of common health problems including:
Most of the problems that you would take to your GP can be treated with Herbal Medicine. Although many over-the-counter herbal products can be helpful, we always recommend a consultation with a Qualified Medical Herbalist for the safest and most effective treatment. The forerunner of modern medicine Echinacea Herbal Medicine is the forerunner of modern orthodox medicine which takes many drugs from plant sources but uses them in isolation. Medical Herbalists, however, use the whole plant which contains a complex mixture of compounds that work together to give a gentle healing effect but without any side effects. For example, the drug Aspirin was derived from Willow Bark, traditionally used by Herbalists as a painkiller and anti-inflammatory, but which also has antacid properties and can be used by patients with acid stomach problems. Our knowledge of medicinal plants comes from our ancestors who found the most effective plants to heal their illnesses. The earliest written records relating to the use of herbal medicine date back to China in 2500BC. Nowadays, Medical Herbalists make use of plants whose traditional uses are backed up by modern scientific research and clinical trials.  Passion Flower A Qualified Medical Herbalist has studied modern medicine as well as plant medicine and is trained in the same diagnostic skills as a GP. However, Herbalists take a holistic approach to illness, treating the underlying cause of disease rather than just the symptoms. They are able to prescribe herbal remedies to be used alongside other medication and treatments, and many patients are referred to Napiers Herbalists by their GP for treatment alongside orthodox drugs. Herbal Medicine is suitable for people of any age, including children who respond especially well to the gentle actions of herbs. Each patient is treated as an individual - we recognise that no two arthritis or eczema patients are the same. Consulting a Medical HerbalistYour initial consultation with a Medical Herbalist will last up to fifty minutes, during which time the Medical Herbalist will build up a picture of you and your health by
This allows the herbalist to assess the underlying causes of your illness and formulate a mixture of herbs tailored to your individual needs. It may also be necessary to take your blood pressure or arrange for other tests to be done. At the end of the consultation you will together develop a treatment plan including herbal remedies and, where appropriate, improvements to diet and lifestyle, or nutritional supplements. Most herbal medicines are given in the form of a liquid tincture that is taken in 5ml doses two or three times daily. You may also be prescribed an herbal tea, tablets, ointment, cream or lotion, depending on your condition. After the initial consultation, three or four shorter consultations are usually necessary to assess your progress, followed by check-ups every three to six months, depending on the nature of your condition. Because herbal medicines works in a gentle and subtle way to correct internal imbalances, they can take longer to work than orthodox drugs, but their effects are long lasting and there should be no side effects. Napiers ClinicsThe respected Victorian Herbalist and Botanist Duncan Napier established Napiers in 1860 at Bristo Place in Edinburgh, and our shop and clinic are still on the original site. Today, Napiers Herbal Health Care is expanding into other towns and cities in the UK, and we work hard to continue the tradition of high quality herbal products and professional treatments in our clinics. We are dedicated to improving public access to, and awareness of, herbal medicine and encourage all our staff to undertake professional training in herbal medicine whilst gaining retail and management experience. All Medical Herbalists at Napiers Herbal Health Care have completed a recognised four or five year training course and are members of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) or College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy (CPP), both of which have a strict code of ethics. Consultations with our Medical Herbalists are available Monday to Sunday by appointment. Please contact your local Napiers branch for further details. We also run a number of specialist clinics. |