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Herbal Medicine | Hypnotherapy | Bach Flower Remedies | Healing & Reiki
Why consult a medical herbalist?
By consulting a medical herbalist you are ensuring expert advice and treatment for your condition. It is sometimes tempting to treat yourself with over-the-counter herbal products. This can be very successful if your problems are straightforward and the quality of the products are good. However, if you’re not making progress with over-the counter herbs, or if your condition is long-standing or complex, you’re generally better off seeing a medical herbalist. We can take an objective and informed view of your health needs and select the most beneficial herbs for your treatment. We can also ensure your treatment is safe and appropriate.
How can herbs help me?
Herbs are a powerful force for change with few side effects. We treat many of the health problems you might bring to your doctor, including hormonal, skin, chest, circulatory, digestive and stress-related conditions. .
Are herbs safe to take with medicine from my doctor?
Most herbs are safe to take alongside medicine from the doctor. However, some herbs should not be taken alongside orthodox medication or if you are pregnant or suffer from a serious medical condition. We are fully trained to prescribe safely and effectively in such cases, and to avoid any potential clashes.
What are the differences between Pharmaceutical and Herbal drugs?
Many of the pharmaceutical drugs used today are based on plant constituents and, even now, when scientists are seeking new "cures" for disease it is to the plant world that they turn. They find, extract and then synthesize in the laboratory a single active constituent from the plant (the active constituent is the part of the plant that has a therapeutic value), this can then be manufactured on a large scale.
Herbal medications, however, are extracts from a part of the whole plant (e.g. leaves, roots, berries etc.) and contain hundreds, perhaps thousands of plant constituents. Herbalists believe that the active constituents are balanced within the plant and are moderated by the numerous other substances present, thus greatly reducing the risk of side effects .
How long should treatment last?
This varies tremendously depending on your condition and overall health. You may only need one or two consultations for simple warts or a cold, but if you have a chronic condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, then you may need to take herbal medicine for a number of months or longer. Our aim is always to reduce dosage levels where possible, with a view to helping our patients live healthy lives without the need for long-term treatment.
Clinical Hypnotherapy
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a completely natural state of mind which most of us experience on a daily basis. Your mind is in a hypnotic trance during the moments before you fully awaken in the morning or fall asleep at night. Rhythmic movements or sounds such as lapping waves or strobe lighting can also bring on hypnotic trance, as can monotonous tasks such as long-distance driving or pleasurable experiences such as massage and relaxing baths. Children are particularly open to trance – just watch them playing with a favourite toy, enjoying their own inner world!
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is the process by which a trained therapist guides you into a deeply relaxed state of hypnosis. Positive suggestions can then be given by the therapist to safely bring about the changes you require in your health or well-being.
Can everyone be hypnotised?
Most people can be hypnotised successfully if they’re happy and willing to do so. Hypnotherapists do not normally work with children under five or people who have a history of psychotic illness, epilepsy or severe clinical depression.
What does hypnosis feel like?
Everyone is unique and experiences the hypnotic state slightly differently. Most people are aware of everything being said to them, whilst at the same time they feel very pleasantly relaxed. External sounds may drift into the background as the patient becomes more and more interested in their own inner world. Time may seem to pass more swiftly than the clock indicates, or vice versa. A minority of people go into deep trance, during which parts of their body may feel pleasantly numb. All normal sensations will return on waking from trance.
Are there any side effects?
Hypnotherapy is completely natural and safe and there are no harmful side effects. When administered by a professionally trained and skilled hypnotherapist, the benefits are long lasting and often permanent.
What happens during a hypnotherapy session?
This varies tremendously depending on the patient, the therapist and the stage of treatment. The therapist will always take a thorough case history before proceeding with any trance work. They will always work at your pace, welcoming feedback from you as each session progresses. During some sessions you may remain mainly in trance, whilst in others much of the time may be spent in conscious conversation with the therapist. This is known as ‘waking’ hypnosis, and can be powerfully effective.
How many sessions will I need?
This largely depends on the problem you come with and how deep seated it is. Habits and phobias often respond quickly to hypnotherapy, generally needing two to four sessions, unless complicated. Long-standing or more complex issues such as chronic pain, insomnia, psoriasis, binge-eating, self-confidence or infertility may require up to six sessions or more, whilst multi-factorial problems such as anorexia nervosa, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression may require an open-ended approach. You and your therapist will regularly review progress and agree joint goals for therapy and when and how often to meet.
Should I wear special clothing?
There is no need for special clothing. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
Will I be asked to lie down?
Usually you will be seated during therapy, but some people prefer to lie down, particularly if they have postural problems. The choice is yours.
Can I be forced to do something I don’t want to?
No. The unconscious mind will always refuse to do something that it is not ready or willing to do. Your therapist adheres to a strict code of conduct and will always work towards what benefits you.
What happens if I don’t wake up?
Your therapist will always ensure that you are fully back to normal consciousness before you leave the therapy room. It is, in any case, normal for your conscious mind to take back full control after about an hour in trance. Even in the extremely unlikely absence of your therapist, you would always eventually fully awaken !
Is it safe to drive afterwards?
There is no reason why you should not drive or carry out any other mechanical activity after a hypnotherapy session. Some people feel so relaxed after their session they want to take things quietly for a little while. If you can, allow a few extra minutes after your session before needing to rush back into the world.
Bach Flower Remedies:
What are the Bach Flower Remedies?
These 38 remedies were discovered by Dr. Bach in the first decades of the 20th century. Dr. Bach was a medical doctor who became increasingly dissatisfied with treatment that dealt mainly with symptoms, rather than causes. He felt that the personality and emotional state of an individual had profound effects upon that person’s health.
The remedies work on many different, and often subtle, emotional levels, and can play a role in transforming attitudes from negative to positive, with consequent beneficial effects on health.
What emotions do the remedies work on?
Singly, or in combination, they are able to work with any emotional pattern. Dr. Bach grouped them into categories of fear, uncertainty, insufficient interest in the present, loneliness, oversensitivity to influence and ideas, despondency or despair, and over-care for the welfare of others. Negative emotions can cause our energy to become blocked, and this may lead to all kinds of problems. The flower remedies help to resolve these blockages.
Can I take the flower remedies along with other medication?
Yes, the remedies are absolutely safe to take at any time, and with any medication.
Healing and Reiki:
What is the difference between Healing and Reiki?
Healing (such as taught by the National Federation of Spiritual Healers) and Reiki, although using different techniques, are both methods of working with the natural energy of the body in order to encourage deep relaxation on all levels. Reiki originated in Japan in the early 20th century. Both are non-intrusive, gentle, and holistic, and promote our regenerative self-healing ability.
What does the word Reiki mean?
It means Universal energy. This flow of life energy is vital to our well-being.
