Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a Clinical Herbalist?
A: This is an herbalist who has training that gives them a more technical and scientific approach to understanding the way herbs work, how the body responds, and what is necessary to support good health. They are familiar with scientific studies and peer reviewed papers about herbalism, and use technical vocabulary which allows them to navigate confidently through scientific literature about botany, herbalism, and medicine. Additionally, they often have an in-depth knowledge of anatomy/physiology, pathology/disease and other health concepts that allow them to dialogue easily with healthcare professionals including nurses and doctors.
Q: Why do I need to provide pictures of my tongue on my intake form?
A: Herbalists are trained to use differential diagnosis to help identify the possible root cause of a symptom or condition. The ancient diagnosis method of reading the tongue gives the herbalist a vast amount of insight regarding the health state of the individual.
Q: Who can benefit from herbal medicine?
A: Everyone of all ages can benefit, even children! Many parents prefer using the gentler herbs appropriate for children instead of harsh over the counter medicines which in most cases contain undesirable ingredients.
Q: Is herbal medicine safe?
A: Yes – when administered properly. Herbs (plant/botanical medicines) have a profound effect on the human body. Comprised of thousands of medicinal constituents, herbs can affect multiple body systems in targeted ways while also working synergistically with the body for a holistic treatment approach – herbal medicine comes with minimal to no side effects in the process.
Q: How long does it take to start seeing results?
A: Since herbal medicine aims at treating the root cause of symptoms, it may take some time to start to see results. Standard protocol for an acute condition is anywhere from 1-4 weeks and about 1 month of herbal treatment for every year of having had a chronic condition. Of course this heavily depends on the individual and their specific symptoms.
Q: How is herbal medicine different from pharmaceutical drugs?
A: When using herbs as medicine, you are employing the entire plant (root, flower, leaf, rhizome, etc.) which consists of a multitude of medicinal components capable of impacting multiple pathways in the body. Pharmaceuticals are manufactured to contain one specific compound. While pharmaceuticals are often aimed at one specific health goal, they can negatively impact multiple body systems – thus we see adverse side effects and the addition of other drugs to "reduce" these side effects. Also, these drugs aim to stop symptoms in the body and never treat the underlying cause of your illness.
The correct use of herbal medicines may reduce and eliminate the root cause of your symptoms. However, it is important to understand that herbal medicine is not created for specific diseases and illnesses. For example, there is no herb to “treat arthritis” or to “treat IBS.” Herbs, when taken correctly, can aid in minimizing the root cause or underlying health imbalances which can bring relief to specific ailments and can be remarkably effective in providing full-body treatment that is not just symptom specific. Herbal medicines do not have extensive side effect profiles as pharmaceuticals do.
Q: What can herbal medicine be used for?
A: Quite nearly everything! Examples of some common health issues include:
• Digestion Issues/Weight management
• Aging Gracefully
• Insomnia/Sleep Issues
• Women’s Health and wellness/Hormone balance
• Coping with Stress and Anxiety/Depression
• Colds and Flus
• Fatigue/ Adrenal Support
• Boosting the Immune system
• Skin issues including acne, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis
• Easing the side effects of conventional pharmaceutical medications and interventions