What is Herbal Medicine?
In my twenties, I wasn’t much interested in plants. I was a TV reporter but life has a strange way of working things out and I’m much happier now as a clinical herbalist who does “investigative health” - and very privileged to help others improve their health naturally.
Herbal medicine is really another term for “plant medicine” and as a herbalist I’ve studied over 100 different plants and their specific actions on the body.
If you’ve heard of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that’s the traditional form of herbal medicine that grew in China thousands of years ago by people using the plants around them and studying their actions on the body. Back in those days their wasn’t any other options and people really needed to see what plants did what and helped people with their illnesses.
Maybe you’ve heard of Ayurveda - that’s Indian herbal medicine. This also started thousands of years ago with people in India observing which plants helped the body to heal. Traditional cultures all over the world all have their own versions of herbal medicine; there’s Persian herbal medicine, Balinese herbal medicine and Maori herbal medicine, etc, etc.
Herbal medicine is not well known in Australia - but it is used all over the world to improve wellness and boost and nourish the body’s systems back into balance.
What is a Clinical Herbalist?
I specialise in Western Herbal Medicine and this is used all over Europe, the USA, England, New Zealand and other English speaking countries.
I’ve studied the actions and uses for over 100 different herbal plants for over 4 years, and I am a clinical herbalist because I help people in a clinical setting to improve their health and wellness. Clinical herbalists are holistic-minded, tackling the root of long-standing health issues by using herbs that will help to bring the body back into balance.
Do you know what’s the world’s most loved herb? (Hint: you probably had some this morning…)
The answer is …coffee !
Coffee is a herb with a very specific herbal action. It works on the adrenal gland - activating the release of adrenaline to make you feel more awake and alert.
You can feel when you take it that this plant has a very specific action on the body.
Just like coffee, other plants have very specific actions on different parts of the body.
Chamomile relaxes the nervous system. Brahmi works on the brain and helps memory and focus. Dandelion cleanses the liver.
Each of the 100 plants I studied have very specific herbal actions - and help to nourish or activate the body’s different systems.
Herbs are really just food for the body. Very potent but gentle food that is well recognised by the body and well assimilated. If you can imagine your body is a living machine with different parts - some of these parts as we age start to wear out.
Herbal medicine is very good at providing the exact right nourishment for that body part or system to get it working well again.
Using herbs together in a formula is a way of creating a very personal for of plant medicine that’s been carefully designed just for you. Sometimes we mix the herbs into a tincture (yes those funny brown liquids), and sometimes we give herbal capsules or even an organic good quality custom herbal teas that can get the plant medicine into your body quickly.
A number of few years ago, I was going through a particularly hard time with burn out. I had four kids to take care of and a partner who worked away FIFO 50% of the time. I was so stressed all the time that I was having trouble sleeping at night and was exhausted all day. I got down to 4 hours sleep a night. It was terrible!
Luckily I was learning about herbal medicine and I tried Panax Ginseng. My goodness, that herb bent down, offered me a hand and pulled me out of burn out. Within a week I was sleeping better and my whole ability to cope had improved. I had stamina and calmness and energy again. This was a life-changing experience for me and that tiny little plant became a huge part of my recovery.
I wouldn't recommend this herb to everyone. It’s quite strong and if you are suffering burn out I might prescribe something different. But for me this was a herbal ally.
I believe that everyone has herbal allies - herbs that suit their consititutional type and naturally are a good fit for you. Finding them is like meeting an old friend. You simply click. Your body receives from the herb what it has been missing.
If you would like to try to find your herbal allies or receive some herbal help to support your health, you can make an appointment wth me and I’d love to help you.
The Role of Clinical Herbalists in Supporting Health
Clinical herbalists can support various health concerns, including:
Stress and Anxiety Relief: Using calming, adaptogenic herbs to help balance the body’s response to stress.
Digestive Support: Formulating gentle herbs to support digestion and ease discomfort.
Immune Health: Using herbs with immune-supporting properties to build resilience, especially during seasonal changes.
Hormonal Balance: Working with herbs that support a balanced endocrine system, beneficial for reproductive health, menopause, and more.
Sleep Issues: Creating personalised formulas that promote restful sleep without dependency.