natural health
natural health
Sue Stokes - Medical Herbalist
What is a Medical Herbalist?
Simply put, a medical herbalist is someone who uses plants for healing.
People have used herbs for thousands of years, relying on powered supplements, teas, tinctures and skin creams to help treat everything from skin rashes to mild depression - and more!
As your medical herbalist, I can treat a wide variety of physical conditions, illnesses, allergies and intolerances, through the holistic use of plants in conjunction with modern medical knowledge.
What does a Medical Herbalist study?
I am fully trained as a medical herbalist, gaining qualification in 2008. During this training we covered human sciences (including anatomy, physiology and bio-chemistry), nutrition, pharmacy and dispensing, botany and plant science plus extensive evidence-based botanical research.
What should I expect at my appointment?
I am a front line health care worker qualified to diagnose and treat a range of health conditions.
Just like when you visit the doctor, we will sit and discuss you - your symptoms, your observations, your current medications - and I will listen. I will also ask a variety of questions based on a list of indicators, the answers to which will provide a solid foundation for us to work with - a starting point whereby we can introduce achievable and sustainable change to build better health for you. I see your health as a partnership!
Unlike your GP however, this appointment will take much longer and it is recommended that we allow 90 minutes for the initial consultation. This time also allows me the opportunity to do any research required; this may take 1-2 hours.
A complimentary follow up appointment is required two weeks later to allow us to access progress and make any changed required.
Please bring copies of any tests performed within the last year, for example, blood pressure reading, a diabetes prick test or a urine sample.
What do I mean by sustainable change?
Any change that is to be maintained needs to be achievable, sustainable and measurable. In short, if it is not, then any changes I recommend could fail. Furthermore, we will have a positive focus on your change - we will focus on what you CAN do/have as opposed to things you need to avoid. We will work together to come up with a plan that works for you.
It is important to note that this level of sustainability will be different for every person and this is something we will discuss and mutually agree on, at every appointment.
Health changes with time and as we improve one area of wellness other issues may occur. This is normal and why it is important to continue adapt the health care plan to suit.
What if you find your struggling with the changes, or have questions between appointments?
If you find that we have agreed on more than you are able to handle, then I am happy to provide you with support. Talking things through, finding alternatives and coming up with new ideas can all help you on your wellness journey.
I generally keep an appointment spare, each day, in case someone needs such help.
What is the difference between treating the cause and the symptom?
When I treat a client, I have to understand what is the root cause of the signs/symptoms. Signs are what you can see, eg - flushing, swelling or a rash. Symptoms are what you are feeling, eg - tired, headachey.
For example : I could prescribe a cream that would treat the symptom, and while this may give temporary relief, it does not reat the underlying cause, ie - what is cuasing the rash in the first place.
To do this, I need to obtain information that will help me to isolate where the imblanace is in the body. Often with rashes the cause is allergy, liver dysfunction or gut issues. I would treat the problem while at the same time, offering symptom relief.
What do I need to understand about the transition from modern medicine to natural medicine?
To understand the transition from herbal medicine to modern medicine, we need to look at why medicine has developed as it has. Medicine evolved based on plants, rituals and beliefs. I really like the idea of the Sharma who was paid when you were well but payment stopped if you became ill. It was in the Sharmans interest to keep you well or get you better. There wasn’t a lot of money in medicine as it was the preserve of women and monks. The “lady of the manner” worked to keep the tenant farmers well as their profit was her’s, whilst he monks healed people for the glory of their god.
As the work industrialised, medicine moved more towards a business model and doctors were often male and university trained. Less often they made their own medicines and began to rely on manufactured products. As knowledge grew, so did reputations and the health model became a business model.
Herbs are still a hugely important base on which modern medicines are often made. These treatments created in a lab, at huge cost, bear little resemblance to the herbal treatments of the past.
It is important to understand that it is not one or the other! In many cases the two are complimentary, with natural formulations used to help with, for example, the absorbency of modern medicine.
Why do you not use the phrase “alternative” medicine?
The short answer is because it is not an “alternative” medicine. I think the word “forgotten” is more appropriate and I say this because many of the plants - flowers, leaves and roots - have been used for centuries. 500 of the 550 most prescribed medicines in New Zealand are based on plant compounds.
Whilst the basic knowledge comes from generations passed, from people referred to as “witches” or “sharman” or more recently known as “grannies remedy” or “wives tales”, I would venture to say that, as the years go by, increased research and knowledge allows us a better understanding to develop more advance or modern blends.
There is still a massive rush by pharmaceutical companies to find the next great cure locked in plants. Ethnobotanists and microbiologists are still hunting down antea remedies, testing plant materials to isolate chemicals that may be developed into drugs.
To my mind this isolation method leaves a lot of plant value unexplored. An example is Willow, the source of salicylic acid. Isolated salicylic acid can cause stomach bleeds and ulcers whilst the intact Willow herb contains natural buffers that reduce the occurrence of this. Sadly, these buffers are removed during the manufacturing process. What is the difference between over-the-counter and practitioner prescribed supplements?
An over the counter supplement generally has small quantities and must be safe for most people even though they may be taking other medications. As there is no consultation with these supplements, most are general formulations that are non specific. Many also contain ingredients such as inorganic minerals or herbs that are not only cheap but have only small amounts of active ingredients. They are not specific to health conditions.
A prescribed supplement on the other hand must be prescribed by a qualified medical health care professional. The supplements will be specific to your health condition, the doses are generally higher than those over the counter supplements and because of this, there may be drug/herb interactions, so the practitioner must ensure that these are taken in consideration.
Additionally, the medicines themselves are of a guaranteed quality. Herbs undergo a process called High Performance Liquid Chromatography. This gives a chemical fingerprint of the plant so it guarantees that it is the correct herb with the correct balance of constituents. Minerals and vitamins are tested in the lab to ensure the most bioavailable forms of each are used in treatment.
Therefore, practitioner only supplements/medications are more effective and specifically prescribed for you!
As the work industrialised, medicine moved more towards a business model and doctors were often male and university trained. Less often they made their own medicines and began to rely on manufactured products. As knowledge grew, so did reputations and the health model became a business model.
Herbs are still a hugely important base on which modern medicines are often made. These treatments created in a lab, at huge cost, bear little resemblance to the herbal treatments of the past.
It is important to understand that it is not one or the other! In many cases the two are complimentary, with natural formulations used to help with, for example, the absorbency of modern medicine.
Why do you not use the phrase “alternative” medicine?
The short answer is because it is not an “alternative” medicine. I think the word “forgotten” is more appropriate and I say this because many of the plants - flowers, leaves and roots - have been used for centuries. 500 of the 550 most prescribed medicines in New Zealand are based on plant compounds.
Whilst the basic knowledge comes from generations passed, from people referred to as “witches” or “sharman” or more recently known as “grannies remedy” or “wives tales”, I would venture to say that, as the years go by, increased research and knowledge allows us a better understanding to develop more advance or modern blends.
There is still a massive rush by pharmaceutical companies to find the next great cure locked in plants. Ethnobotanists and microbiologists are still hunting down antea remedies, testing plant materials to isolate chemicals that may be developed into drugs.
To my mind this isolation method leaves a lot of plant value unexplored. An example is Willow, the source of salicylic acid. Isolated salicylic acid can cause stomach bleeds and ulcers whilst the intact Willow herb contains natural buffers that reduce the occurrence of this. Sadly, these buffers are removed during the manufacturing process. What is the difference between over-the-counter and practitioner prescribed supplements?
An over the counter supplement generally has small quantities and must be safe for most people even though they may be taking other medications. As there is no consultation with these supplements, most are general formulations that are non specific. Many also contain ingredients such as inorganic minerals or herbs that are not only cheap but have only small amounts of active ingredients. They are not specific to health conditions.
A prescribed supplement on the other hand must be prescribed by a qualified medical health care professional. The supplements will be specific to your health condition, the doses are generally higher than those over the counter supplements and because of this, there may be drug/herb interactions, so the practitioner must ensure that these are taken in consideration.
Additionally, the medicines themselves are of a guaranteed quality. Herbs undergo a process called High Performance Liquid Chromatography. This gives a chemical fingerprint of the plant so it guarantees that it is the correct herb with the correct balance of constituents. Minerals and vitamins are tested in the lab to ensure the most bioavailable forms of each are used in treatment.
Therefore, practitioner only supplements/medications are more effective and specifically prescribed for you!