Medical Herbalist London. Herbal Medicine London

North London Medical Herbalist

Elsa Hamaz B.Sc. (Hons) Herbal Medicine, MNIMH

14 Fletching Road

Hackney, Lower Clapton

London E5 9QP

Tel: 020 8533 0342 Mobile: 07939 610283

What to expect from a consultation with a Herbal Practitioner
Medical Herbalists are trained in the same diagnostic skills as orthodox doctors but take a more holistic approach to illness. The underlying cause of the problem is sought and, once identified, it is this which is treated, rather than the symptoms alone.

Your medicine will be individually tailored to your particular condition and the combination of herbs can be changed according to the progress you make in regaining your health.

The first consultation will take at least an hour. Detailed notes on your medical history will be taken prior to any physical examination deemed necessary including taking your blood pressure. Advice about diet and lifestyle changes may also be given.

The second appointment is usually after two weeks and follow-ups are arranged as necessary.

What can Herbal Medicine Treat?
Common complaints seen by herbalists:

* Skin complaints: psoriasis, acne, eczema, skin infections
* Digestive disorders: peptic ulcers, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion
* Heart and circulatory problems: angina, high blood pressure, varicose veins, varicose ulcers
* Urinary system: cystitis, prostate enlargement
* Gynaecological disorders: premenstrual syndrome, menstrual irregularities, PCO, menopausal problems
* Allergic responses: hay fever, asthma
* Infections: tonsillitis, influenza, coughs, bronchitis
* Arthritis
* Sleep problems
* Headaches and migraines
* Stress related conditions

Herbal medicines have a gentle action, are non addictive and suitable for all ages.
Cost of treatment
First appointment: £35
Follow up appointment: £25
Concessionary fees available for children, the over 60’s, people on low incomes.
Average cost of medicine: £5 a week.

About your therapist
Elsa graduated from Middlesex University where she gained a BSc (Hons) in Herbal Medicine. She is a member of the National Institute For Medical Herbalists (NIMH) which is the leading professional body for European herbalism in the UK. All its members must adhere to a code of practice and ethics. Membership includes professional indemnity.

All herbal products prescribed by Elsa are from reputable suppliers and whenever possible of organic origin. She also grows her own supply of herbs or collects them from the wild in this country or in the Alps of Europe and uses them to make teas, tinctures, oils, capsules and creams.

Elsa grew up in South Tyrol which has a long tradition in herbal medicine. She trained and worked as a physiotherapist in Italy before coming to Britain. Elsa speaks German and Italian and now lives in Hackney with her husband and four children.

To make an appointment please phone 020 8533 0342 or 07939 610283 or visit www.herbalistix.co.uk

Further Information About Herbal Medicine

The history of using plants as medicines goes back to ancient times. And before drug-based medicine was developed, herbal therapy was the accepted form of medical treament in the Western world. When scientists began to isolate the most active ingredients in plants to make drugs, and as the new and different philosophy of allpoathy (drug-based) medicine got established, they abandoned herbal remedies. Today, around a quarter of prescribed medicines still have their origin in plants. However, the tradition of herbal therapy lived on and has continued to be developed over the last few centuries. And indeed it remains the most widely practiced form of medicine worldwide.

Herbal therapists or medical herbalists believe it is important to use the whole plant and not just an isolated fraction. The whole plant is seen as more than the sum of its individual parts. Although this may make it less potent, and take longer to take effect, the various compounds in the plant have a synergistic and balancing effect to improve the healing potential. In this way, deep-seated nutritional and biochemical imbalances can be corrected.

Herbal therapy is similar to other holistic approaches in that herbalists believe in a vital force or energy within human beings that can get into disharmony to bring about symptoms and illness. With the appropriate stimulus the body will respond by healing itself. The herbalist, although trained in the same diagnostic skills as orthodox doctors, aims to uncover the underlying cause of illness, and then restore harmony to the whole body, not just suppress symptoms.

The first consultation will probablytake an hour. A medical history will be taken and questions may be asked about diet , lifestyle, stress levels etc. Pulse, blood pressure, urine and blood tests may be required. Herbs will be prescribed as necessary. They may be in the form of tinctures, capsules, tablets, teas, creams, oils or ointments.

Conditions that may respond to Western herbal therapy according to the National Institute of Medical Herbalists: "Common complaints seen by herbalists included skin problems such a psoriasis, acne and eczema; digestive disorders such as peptic ulcers, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and indigestion. Problems involving the heart and circulation like angina, high blood pressure, varicose veins, varicose ulcers etc., can also be treated successfully as can gynaecological disorders like premenstrual syndrome and menopausal problems, also conditions such as arthritis, insomnia, stress, migraine and headaches, tonsillitis, influenza and allergic responses like hayfever and asthma."

To learn more about herbal medicine please visit Henriette's Herbal at www.henriettesherbal.com