Will Herbal Medicine work for me?
Its a controversial title here because this isn’t a question I tend to answer! Let me explain…
I hold a core value of being non-evangelical wherever possible and honour your own truth. OK, I’ll admit I fail on occasion, since I can get ludicrously over excited about some things, such as ‘The Doggy Bag’ (this product for wet muddy canines is a thing every mud-retrieving dog parent needs in their life!) But in the most part, I do not seek to change your perspectives if you are confident that this is not the right medicine for your needs. If you’re really unsure about the power of plant medicine, I’ve heard it said that you could ‘try drinking a triple expresso just before bed and then let me know if that plant medicine has any impact on you!’ (Please don’t, your sleep is a very valuable resource!)
I encourage my clients to bring questions, to seek out the research and evidence base for my suggestions and formulations to your consultation if they wish to do so - this medicine is in part a co-collaboration. We are fortunate that many splendid herbal texts are publicly available for you to explore in your own way if you have the interest and capacity to explore them. (Aeon books is a great place to start your search if you are exploring, or keep an eye out for my upcoming courses for Home Herbalism!)
When we work together, I bring my clinical training, professional expertise and my specialist research to draw upon, along with the existing traditions of Western Medical Herbalism, in which I remain a student for life, with no expectation of ever ‘knowing it all’!
If you have questions about how Herbal Medicine might be of particular use to you, in your personal context, to inform your decision, I can invite you to explore my testimonials from previous clients here, or to book ‘A Quick Cuppa’ to explore what your needs might be. I don’t push you to book a consultation, and I don’t ask you to change your mind. Perhaps, instead, something else in my toolbox is useful to you, and we can draw on other aspects of the Hireth Medicine work such as Intuitive Coaching or Clinical Hypnotherapy or Performance Coaching. If not, there are many wonderful practioners out there in the world, with so many different modalities, that I trust you will find one who might be the best fit for you.
I caution you, however, to apply your critical thinking to the most evangelical of practioners in any of the Complementary and Alternative Medicine or wellbeing fields, since so often practionners have something to sell, and if something has worked well for one person, this is not an guaranteed indicator that it will work as well for absolutely everyone. In the same way that certain dietary systems suit some people really well, but not others, our bodies and wellbeing context are unique – and so, my practice does not offer promises of any global panaceas, no matter how enthusiastic I might get about a nice cup of tea! I do not claim to cure or heal all illness, and I find it pretty problematic to suggest that any single medicine can. I am, however, very confident that I can offer you support in navigating your wellbeing journey, within my scope of practice.
If you’d like to find out more, you can always book in for ‘A Quick Cuppa’ to discuss any reservations that you may have about working with Herbal Medicine. If my practice isn’t quite the fit for you, I hope you find the right path, and the right medicine for you!
