What to expect from a herbal medicine consultation…

Initial consultations are usually face-to-face, or may be offered online if more convenient for the patient.  Several short questionnaires should be completed by the patient before the initial consultation which include details of the presenting complaint, a list of medication and supplements taken by the patient, a timeline of significant events and a food and lifestyle diary.  During the consultation, Natalie will spend up to 1 ½ hours discussing the patient’s presenting complaint and taking a full heath history.  Medical Herbalists are trained to use the same diagnostic skills as a GP, and Natalie will take blood pressure and perform a physical examination, if relevant to the patient’s issues.  As part of their training, Medical Herbalists study orthodox medicine and are educated in the known interactions of mainstream medical healthcare with herbal medicine, and are therefore able to prescribe herbs that may be safely used alongside other prescribed medications  

As a holistic practitioner, Natalie will be looking at the causes of the presenting complaint and treating those, rather than the symptoms.  All areas of the patient’s health, physical and emotional, will be examined and discussed.  Herbs are selected according to the detailed information provided by the patient during the consultation, and any appropriate clinical examination.  In this way, every patient receives a personalised, bespoke therapeutic plan that may include tinctures, herbal teas, topical creams or balms, as well as dietary, lifestyle and supplement recommendations, if relevant.  A follow-up consultation is scheduled for about a month later to monitor progress and see how the patient is getting on with the herbs.