What is Herbalism?

"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has " - Hippocrates

Herbal medicine is the use of plants for supporting our health and well-being (herbalism). It is one of the oldest practices of medicine in the world and still more widely prescribed in countries such as India and China. Herbs are plants with a purpose, and in this case they are being used for their medicinal qualities such as st johns wort and echinacea. Some herbs are also medicinal foods including garlic and ginger.

A Holistic and Individualized Therapy

Herbalism is a person-centred, holistic and bespoke type of therapy. No two people are alike, so herbal formulas are individualized and it’s the job of the herbalist to learn about the physical, energetic and emotional patterns of each person and match them up with the right plants. This is why the consultation process is an integral part of herbal medicine.

Holistic Herbalism

I don’t think that herbalism fits that well into the conventional ‘medicine’ model because plants and humans are more complex than that, so I have started to use the term holistic herbalism to describe what I offer as a herbalist.

Herbalism is empowering because it allows you to take responsibility for your health and well-being. Home herbalism can be learned and remedies used by anyone for themselves, friends and families, but a qualified herbalist takes this to the next level and knows the unique properties of hundreds of plants and how to combine them and prescribe them to each individual while working within safe parameters.

It seeks to treat the whole person and rebalance them by identifying the root cause of the issue instead of just treating the symptoms. Herbal medicine is a safe and natural therapy, which uses plants along with diet and lifestyle changes. This means that it is more gradual, deep and gentle than conventional medicine, but it can be powerful in the long term and without the side effects.

Who Can Benefit from Herbal Medicine?

Herbs are well suited to support the management of a wide range of health concerns and is especially suited to chronic conditions. However, you do not need to be ill to attend a herbalist; it can also be used as a form of preventative medicine to boost your health or when you just don't feel quite right.

How Herbal Medicine is Used

Herbs can be prescribed in different forms with the simplest being in food. The most common is a tincture, which consists of herbs extracted in alcohol & water, herbal infusions (teas), syrups, and powders can also be used internally, whilst oils, balms, and baths are used externally.

The Master Herbalist

A master herbalist has had formal training for 4 years in learning the properties of hundreds of herbs and the conditions they can be used to help, as well as basic medical training and studies of diet and naturopathy. I trained for 4 years at The Irish School of Herbal Medicine under The School of Natural Healing and now hold a license to practice as a Herbal Medicine Practitioner. My training involved 600 hours of clinical training and an in-depth study of herbs, the human body, iridology, plant-based nutrition, and naturopathy.

Iridology and Herbal Medicine

Most Master Herbalists also use iridology, a non-invasive system that analyses the iris of the eye to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of your constitution. A simple torch and magnifier, or a camera, are used to view the iris. The findings will be discussed with you and the information used to help you understand your health problems and guide you towards assuming responsibility for creating positive health for yourself.

Further Reading on Herbal Medicine

Treatments & Therapies - Association of Master Herbalists