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Herbal Medicine
Helping Women Naturally Rebalance Hormones With the Power of Herbal Medicine.
As a herbalist, I Understand that Everything In Our Body is Interconnected.
Your emotional health also impacts your physical health, and the other way around. That's why I look at both your past and current health issues comprehensively, considering your overall constitution to identify underlying problems. This way we have a clearer picture of what might be going on, and why. For example, it’s not uncommon for poor gut health to result in skin conditions.
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So, everyone is unique. Based on my findings, I offer personalised herbal remedies that are chosen to act on different tissues or systems in the body to bring it back to balance.
Herbal Medicine
And Its History
Herbal medicine is a traditional healing practice that uses plants and plant-based preparations to promote health, for general wellbeing and in people with various ailments. It is based on the belief that the body has an innate ability to heal itself, and that herbs can support this natural process by providing essential nutrients, and compounds in certain plants that stimulate the body's own healing mechanisms, and helping to restore balance.
Herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years, with ancient Chinese and Egyptian texts dating back to 3,000 BC documenting the medicinal uses of plants
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In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in both culinary and herbal medicine as people seek to diversify their palate and live healthier lifestyles, as well as explore more personalised and natural approaches to healthcare
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Mainstream medical practices have also become more interested in utilising and modifying natural plant compounds in traditional herbal medicines to discover new drugs to treat diseases
How Herbal
Remedies Work?
Herbs contain numerous biological compounds called phytochemicals, which are naturally occurring chemical compounds responsible for many of the medicinal properties of plants. These phytochemicals can act as relaxants, tonics, stimulants, diuretics, antidepressants, and much more, interacting with the body in complex ways:
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Mimicking hormones or neurotransmitters, influencing mood and cognition. For instance, St. John’s wort may improve mood by influencing neurotransmitters
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Activating specific receptors in the gut, influencing liver and digestive function, or the kidneys, to reduce excess water retention
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Providing antioxidants used by the body to neutralise harmful free-radicals from pollution, and triggering cellular defence and repair processes. For example, the curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, while ginsenosides in ginseng are known for their ability to boost energy and immune response
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Producing synergistic effects when combined with other herbs. Often, the combination of various compounds within a single herb or a blend of different herbs can produce a synergistic effect, where the combined action is stronger than the sum of individual effects. This synergy can enhance their individual properties
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Herbs also possess specific energetic qualities that gently affect our own state of energetic balance
Herbal Preparations
Herbalists use various parts of plants, including flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and roots, for medicinal purposes.​
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These components are prepared in several forms, such as:
Teas
One of the oldest and most common methods of consuming herbal medicine, suitable for herbs with water-soluble beneficial compounds.
Tinctures
Herbs soaked in alcohol or vinegar to extract the active ingredients over several weeks.
Essential oils
Highly concentrated oils extracted from plants, usually used topically or in aromatherapy, and must be diluted before use due to their potency.
Poultices and Compresses
Fresh or dried herbs mixed with water or oil to form a paste, applied directly to the skin, or a cloth soaked in a herbal infusion and applied to the skin.
Powders
Dried and ground herbs used in cooking, encapsulated, or mixed into beverages.
Capsules & Tablets
Ground herbs encapsulated or compressed into tablets as dietary supplements.
Glycerites
Herbs soaked in glycerin, a sweet-tasting syrup derived from plant oils, popular for those who prefer to avoid alcohol.
Topical preparations
Herbs used in creams, ointments, and salves for external application, ideal for treating skin conditions, muscle pain, and inflammation.
Decoctions
Tougher plant parts like roots or bark boiled in water to extract the active compounds, generally stronger than teas.
Syrups
Herbs cooked into a concentrated syrup, often with honey or sugar, to preserve the medicinal properties, particularly popular for creating remedies that improve respiratory health.
Depending on your needs and preferences, I might suggest more than one type of herbal preparation. For example, someone with digestive issues and trouble sleeping might receive a tincture to take before meals and a tea to drink before bed.
