I’m a London-based Medical Herbalist in Eastcote/Ruislip offering both in-person and online consultations that combine traditional and evidence-based herbal medicine to support a wide range of health issues. I create personalised herbal medicines for each client at my in-house herbal dispensary using western herbs and a select number of commonly used herbs from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic practices.

Why herbal medicine?

Many allopathic medicines were first developed from herbal compounds. Pharmaceutical science began isolating single active ingredients from plants and concentrating them to create powerful medicines, but this imbalanced chemistry is what can lead to the risk of side effects. Herbal medicine works differently; it uses the whole plant with all its chemistry so the compounds can work synergistically together in the body without the side effects that the isolated parts can cause. The effect is more gentle, gradual and non-addictive. Using whole plants can also have multiple health benefits because they all have numerous actions in the body, not just one. For example, one herb can help regulate stress levels with conditions such as anxiety, balance blood sugar, support the immune system, increase energy with fatigue, support cognition with brain fog and poor memory, improve mood such as low mood and PMS.

Herbs don’t need to be taken forever, many are trophorestoratives – meaning they nourish, restore and tone specific organs or body systems over time helping to restore balance and function.

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What is herbal medicine?

Herbalists, also called Phyto therapists use the healing properties of plants in various forms which include tinctures (extraction of the plants chemistry using alcohol), teas/infusions (extraction of water-soluble compounds), powders (whole plants). Topical products can also be custom-made such as herbal creams and balms. These preparations draw out the active phytochemicals, which are the natural compounds responsible for the therapeutic effects.

Herbal remedies are uniquely formulated for each client’s individual needs combining several different herbs to treat the various health conditions that arise during the consultation. Herbs can be used for symptomatic relief from symptoms but never at the expense of finding and treating the root cause. As a naturopath I also use gemmotherapy and add flower essences into herbal tinctures where needed to support the psychological and emotional balance. I also include nutritional support as many health conditions are driven from an imbalanced diet.

Examples of health conditions that herbal medicine can support – sleep issues like insomnia, IBS, digestive issues, acid reflux, hormonal imbalance, menstrual disorders, menopause symptoms, arthritis, reoccurring UTIs, mood disorders, anxiety, stress, low energy/fatigue, blood sugar imbalance, cardiovascular health, immune disorders, skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and more.

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Gemmotherapy

Gemmotherapy, also known as phyto-embryotherapy is a specialised branch of herbal medicine that uses the fresh buds, saplings, rootlets and young shoots of plants, bushes and trees. Traditional herbal medicine uses the fully grown mature parts of the plant which contain different plant chemistry profiles when compared to the buds and young shoots. It’s these different plant compounds that interact in the body in different ways, this is why each plant has it’s own unique action and therapeutic use.

Usually in the spring the buds, shoots and rootlets are immediately harvested whilst still fresh, macerated in alcohol and a water-glycerine solution where it’s left to macerate for a full phyto-complex extraction. The glycerine allows different phytochemicals within the plant to be extracted, compared to alcohol-only extractions used in traditional herbal medicine. Gemmotherapy is rich in fresh embryonic and meristematic tissue, growth factors, phyto-hormones and polyphenols which gives them unique biological properties.

I integrate traditional herbal medicine and gemmotherapy in my practice, selecting each according to the individual’s needs. My aim is to use the strengths of each to support the whole person, choosing remedies based on the individual’s presentation, history, and health goals.

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High quality, safe and up-to-date

All medications are checked using an up-to-date interaction checker for safety. Herbal medicine is generally safe for any age group. Many remedies are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Herbal medicine is not intended to replace essential prescription medication without appropriate medical guidance.

My herbal dispensary is stocked with high quality herbal medicines that are organic where possible and from British suppliers that comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice (which is backed up by government inspections).