A consultation will take about an hour and consider all aspects of health, diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Your herbalist will take a “holistic” view, which means taking into consideration everything that affects your health on a physical, mental, and spiritual level.
You will be asked questions about:
age
career
personality, priorities
concerns
appetite
sleeping patterns
previous medicines and illnesses
bowel movements
family
symptoms
any other aspect that is relevant
As well as what you say, your therapist will want to know how you feel and will note your appearance. The condition of your hair, skin, and facial expression, your posture, and how you move all provide important clues that will help with the diagnosis. There may also be a physical examination. Treatment will then be prescribed by the therapist.
Before a first visit it is worth spending some time considering your health and expectations. It is useful to make a list of relevant points in your medical history and questions you want to ask, as these can easily be missed or forgotten in the stress of a first meeting. If for any reason you do not get along with the practitioner, try another one. It is important that there is a relationship of mutual trust and respect.
Many of the herbs prescribed will be familiar, but some will be unknown to you. After a consultation, a herbalist is able to prescribe herbs which are limited by law and not freely available over the counter to the general public.
METHODS AND DOSAGES
WATER - INFUSIONS (TEAS)
Standard strength
1oz. (25g) herb to 2 cups (500ml) water; or 1 teaspoon herb to 1 cup water
Dose
Some herbs have specific indications and dosages; other herbs are not recommended at certain times, for example, early pregnancy or when breast-feeding. Read the indications and contraindications of each herb carefully.
Standard adult dose
1 cup three times a day for normal conditions
1 cup up to six times a day, or every two hours, for acute conditions
Drink 1 cup twice a day as a long-term strengthening tonic
Children’s dose
Reduce proportionally. Give a child of seven half the standard adult dose. At six months, use 1 teaspoon of the standard strength tea. For breastfeeding infants, give the remedy to the mother.
Brewing times
To some extent this depends on personal taste, but the following is a good guide:
up to 3 minutes for flowers and soft leaves
up to 5 minutes for seeds and leaves
up to 10 minutes for hard seeds, roots, and various barks
Water infusions at the standard strength are used as teas, gargles, lotions for the skin, compresses, and fomentations. Dilute with an equal amount of water for hand or foot baths, douches, and enemas.
WATER - DECOCTIONS
Standard strength
1½oz. (40g) herb to 3 cups (750ml) water
Method
Put herb in saucepan
Add 3 cups (750ml) water
Put on a tight lid
Bring to the boil, then turn down as low as possible and simmer for 10–15 minutes
Strain thoroughly
Discard herb
Pour decoction into a clean bottle
Will keep in a refrigerator for two or three days
Dose
⅓ cup twice a day for normal conditions, and as a tonic
⅓ cup three to six times a day for acute conditions
Decoctions can be diluted with an equal amount of water and used in the same ways as water infusions for hand baths, gargles, etc.
WATER - SIMPLE SYRUPS AND HONEYS
Method
Make standard decoction with 1½oz. (40g) herb and 3 cups (750ml) water
Return to heat, remove lid, and simmer gently till liquid is reduced to 1 cup (250ml), which may take a few hours
Add 2¼ cups (600g) honey or 2 cups (500g) sugar, stirring until completely dissolved
Pour into clean bottle, label, and date
Standard adult dose
2 teaspoons 3 to 6 times a day
Children under five
1 teaspoon three times a day
Syrups and honeys can be used to sweeten other herbal preparations, or added to food or drink. They are ideal for children because they are sweet.
ALCOHOL - TINCTURES
A tincture is an alcohol-based herbal preparation. Tinctures can be made with fresh or dried herbs. The absolute strength of the alcohol needed varies slightly depending on the herb, but the method given below is sufficient for standard home use.
Method
To make 1¼ cups (300ml) of tincture:
Chop 2 tablespoons (12g) dried or 1oz. (25g) fresh herb
Put in large glass jar
Cover with ¾ cup (200ml) alcohol, such as vodka or brandy, and 6 tablespoons (100ml) water
Put on a lid and leave for two weeks
Shake occasionally
After two weeks, strain well through a muslin bag
Squeeze out the liquid
Pour into clean, amber glass bottle. Label and date
Keep in a cool place away from children
Will keep indefinitely
Standard adult dose
1 teaspoon 3 times a day, standard
5 drops to 1 teaspoon a day as a tonic
1 teaspoon 6 times a day for acute conditions
A tincture can be diluted with water: 2 teaspoons to 1 cup water can be used as a skin lotion, wash, foot bath, gargle, compress, or douche.
OIL - LINIMENT
A liniment is a soothing rub to relieve fatigued and stiff muscles and joints. Put the fresh herb in a jar and cover with olive oil. Leave for up to six weeks. Strain the mixture through a cloth. Stand until the oil separates off: use this.
OIL
Oil is soothing and