Herbal Medicine

WHAT IS HERBAL MEDICINE?

Herbal medicine is a complementary therapy that uses the healing powers within plants to treat illness. It is the world’s oldest system of medicine, and over time all cultures have developed their own herbal traditions. Our ancestors, who lived much closer to the land, experimented with the plants from their environment to find effective ways of healing. Nowadays we can use the advancement of science to enable us to identify the particular constituents within the plants and prescribe more accurately.

Plants that are known to support certain organs or systems of the body are used to 'feed' and restore health to areas of weakness. As the body is strengthened, the ability to fight off disease increases and balance and harmony are restored. Some of the most familiar drugs we use today come from plants. For example, morphine comes from poppies, aspirin from willow bark, and digoxin (a treatment for an irregular heart beat) from foxgloves.

Although Herbalism is now classed as a "complementary" discipline it is the most widely practised form of medicine worldwide. According to current statistics over 80% of the world's population rely on herbal remedies to bring about improvements in their health.

Like many complementary therapies, herbal medicine takes a holistic approach to patients - it aims to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms, and to encourage the body to heal itself. 

WHAT CONDITIONS CAN HERBAL MEDICINE TREAT?

Health problems that can be helped include: skin disorders, digestive problems, migraines and headaches, rheumatism and arthritis, hormonal disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, problems involving the heart and circulation like angina, high blood pressure, varicose veins, varicose ulcers etc. 

It is suitable for people of all ages, from the very young to the old.

Appointments available at Menai Bridge

Therapist

Pip Waller MNIMH

Pip Waller qualified as a medical herbalist after four years of study and joined the National Institute of Medical Herbalists in 1989. Since then she has practised in London, Ireland and now North Wales. In 1997 Pip began serving on the Council of NIMH as Chair of Postgraduate Training.

She has been a Clinic Supervisor in the Preston Clinic of Herbal Medicine, training herbalists on the degree course at the University of Central Lancashire, since September 2001.

Pip is currently studying classical Chinese 5-Element