Herbal Medicine is a natural, safe and highly effective form of treatment for health problems in both adults and children.

Herbal Medicine uses plants and plant extracts in the treatment and prevention of disease. Many of the pharmaceutical drugs used today are based on plant constituents which have been extracted or synthesised in a laboratory. Herbal Medicine, on the other hand, uses the plant itself, which contains many constituents, ‘as nature intended’. The active component of the plant is balanced by these other constituents, which support its action or reduce its side effects.

Herbal Medicine has been used in Ireland and around the world for thousands of years. In more recent times, modern research methods have been used to establish the safety and effectiveness of many herbal remedies. Herbal Medicine is often described as alternative or complementary but it is in fact the most widely practiced form of medicine with over 80% of the world’s population relying on herbs for health.

The first consultation usually takes about one hour during which the patient describes the condition for which they would like treatment, and the herbalist asks questions about the medical history, current lifestyle and other aspects of the patient’s health. Physical examinations are carried out where necessary and subsequent shorter consultations are arranged every 2 – 4 weeks initially to assess the progress of treatment.

The treatment plan is uniquely tailored to the individual patient and includes detailed advice about diet, nutritional supplements and other helpful measures. The herbal prescription usually consists of a blend of herbs in the form of a tincture. In some cases other preparations such as tablets, teas or creams may be prescribed, but in all cases the medicines are convenient to take and require little or no preparation.

Herbal Medicine can be used to treat almost any condition, either alone or in conjunction with another form of treatment. Illnesses which respond well to herbal treatment include:

• Headaches and migraines
• Depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance
• Asthma, sinusitis and recurrent infections
• Poor circulation, varicose veins and angina
• Digestive problems, constipation, and IBS
• Irregular periods, PMS, infertility and menopausal symptoms
• Recurrent cystitis and prostate enlargement
• Arthritis and fibromyalgia
• Skin problems such as eczema and acne.

 

Medical Herbalists

Medical Herbalists are trained in the same diagnostic techniques as orthodox doctors but also incorporate a more traditional and holistic approach to healthcare. This means identifying the cause of the problem rather than just the symptoms, and treating the person as a whole and not just the illness. Medical Herbalists are trained to identify any potential interactions between orthodox and herbal medicines and to know when a condition is best referred to a doctor or another therapist. In this country, professionally qualified Medical Herbalists belong to the Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists and can be identified by the letters MIIMH after their names.

For more information about Herbal Medicine or to make an arrange a consultation, please contact Anne-Marie Reilly, Medical Herbalist at the Lismore Clinic, Lismore, Co. Waterford, on 058 53200 or 087 9345910.

Student Clinic

The student training clinic takes place once every third Thursday. The consultations are free of charge and patients only have to pay for their medicines. Consultations are conducted by student herbalists in their final two years of training, and observed by up to 5 other students. This not only provides a valuable learning experience for the students, but also offers the opportunity for individuals who may not otherwise be able to afford it, to experience the benefits of Herbal Medicine.The student training clinic is fully supervised by a qualified Medical Herbalist.