Herbal medicine info (herbal help-line)

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MY FIRST meeting with a herbalist was about 30 years ago. He was a remarkable man, who successfully treated me for psittacosis. I became fascinated with this form of medicine and I later went to college to attain a qualification. A clinic was eventually opened in Cardiff with a GP, which furthered my knowledge of orthodox treatments. The study of plants and their application in illness is vast and can become complex. One of the main things to understand is that a herbalist will not use plants to suppress a symptom, but will rather encourage the body to eliminate the illness. People visit pharmacies searching for a remedy for a particular problem but, in my opinion, this is the wrong way of thinking, I would strive to find the cause of the symptom. Certainly, there are plants that will get rid of a symptom temporarily, but unfortunately they will not remove the cause. With all the complexity of plants, there is also a simplicity. I find that when I have regulated the circulatory and digestive systems, there is a marked improvement in the person. In most illnesses it will be found that one or both systems are under functioning. Diet is of paramount importance, as is exercise, sleep and peace of mind. Herbal medicine now seems to have become a treatment for the rich, when it used to be the poor man’s medicine. Herbs can be presented as medicines in numerous ways – powders, cut herbs, fluid extracts and tinctures. Tinctures are one of the worst forms, as they are high in sugar and alcohol and low in plant material. I rely on powders and fluid extracts (which are concentrated regulated liquids). I will also give fresh juiced herbs. It takes many years to learn how to create herbal formulae, which are always matched to the individuals’ health issues, but, without exception, a herbal accelerator is added. This will enhance the basic formula. It will have taken time for the body to become ill, therefore, it will take time for the illness to be completely eradicated. Liz Sanders is a herbalist in Trecastle, in the Brecon Beacons.