What to expect at a consultation

If you're unfamiliar with herbal medicine and how herbal practitioners decide on which plants to use in your prescription, then this will give you a general idea of what's involved.

Your first consultation with me generally takes around 90 minutes. This is because I need to ask lots of questions about your history (childhood illnesses, family history, accidents, etc) and then a series of questions regarding the current situation you find yourself in.

It's important to try and think of when your health concern started and if anything significant was happening in your life at the time that may have triggered this health concern. If you're uncertain that's absolutely fine as I can ask other questions to help me get to where we need to be.

Once we cover everything, I'll take a photo of your tongue and feel your pulse. This helps me get a better understanding of what is going on.

Once I determine which plants are best for you, I'll make your prescription up for you, which could be a tincture, tea, capsules, oil or salve. Whatever I make for you will last a month, and then we will have a follow-up consultation to see how you're tracking.

I often focus on lifestyle changes first, ensuring you're eating a healthy, whole foods diet most of the time, drinking plenty of water and getting adequate sleep. These are crucial in ensuring you heal faster - the herbs will only work to a certain point if basic lifestyle changes aren't addressed. I encourage you to address some of these issues even before you come and see me, as you may notice a difference without even needing herbal medicine.

At some point, you won't need herbal medicine anymore, or you may only need a top up every now and then to get you back on track. Every person is different - some stay on their prescription for just a few months, others over a year. It's important to remember that if your health concern has been ongoing for a very long time, then the herbs may take a while. Time and again, over the years, I have seen the miracles that herbs can have on people, but patience and commitment are needed, as well as trust in your body that it can heal and that you can be whole again.

Trust in Nature, trust in you!