--Ayi Kwei Armah
"During the last generations the medical monopoly over healthcare has expanded without checks and has encroached on our liberty with regard to our own bodies. Society has transferred to physicians the exclusive right to determine what constitutes sickness, who is or might become sick, and what shall be done to such people... The social commitment to provide all citizens with almost unlimited outputs from the medical system threatens to destroy the environment and cultural conditions needed by people to live a life of constant autonomous healing."
--Ivan Illich
Herbalists focus on supporting and maintaining health, as
opposed to fighting disease. The
strength of plant medicine lies in its capacity to support the body as it finds
its healing path. In other words, herbalists concentrate on nurturing your intrinsic
capacity for healing, rather than
“fixing” you.
Herbalists are trained to provide personalized herbal formulas
and to make lifestyle and dietary recommendations during your consultation. A
large part of your work together will focus on learning to listen and respond
to your body’s signals, and to help you toward new understandings and possibilities in life and in health. This emphasis on education, awareness and self-care
encourages you to develop a deep connection with your body. As you become more
attuned to your body’s signals, and better practiced in responding to them,
office visits will become less frequent.
Among the health areas often helped by herbal medicine are:
- Digestion
- Circadian
rhythm and sleep balance
- Reproductive
health and fertility (in women and men)
- Central
nervous system stress and anxiety
- Seasonal
immunity and allergies
- Energy
and stamina / adrenal support
- Pain
management and mobility support
- Hormonal
regulation
- Skin
issues, including acne, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis
- Easing the side effects of conventional pharmaceutical medications
Since herbs are readily available in a variety of places,
many clients wonder why they should see an herbalist. Working with a practitioner who will take the
time not only to discuss your current issue, but also to look at the “big
picture” allows you to experience a truly holistic approach to health
promotion, one that recognizes the importance of physical, emotional, social
and spiritual health.
Rather than simply treating symptoms by replacing a
pharmaceutical medication with an herbal one, herbalists work in partnership
with you to address underlying issues that are impacting your health. We see and treat you as a whole person, not a
collection of symptoms or a disease.
In addition to recommending individualized herbal formulas
and supplements that are safe, appropriate and correctly dosed, herbalists can
also check for possible interactions with medications and/or other supplements. By law, herbalists cannot diagnose or treat
disease; at the same time, there are few things that herbal medicine cannot
address.
