ABOUT
- Herbal Medicine
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- Richard Whelan

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This months ~ FEATURED ARTICLES
	Women's Health ~ an overview
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FEATURED HERBS
	Dandelion
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FEATURED VIDEOS
	Men's Health ~ an overview

Who should see a herbalist?

People who need to regain their own natural good health do very well seeing a herbalist. Conventional medicine helps accident, emergency and wound care well however it often does poorly for chronic health problems.

I have worked with all types of people with all types of conditions in my practice. I have seen that people can recover from almost anything so long as they never give up on themselves!

What to expect.

You need to allow a good hour for your first visit. I will want to know in detail about your current health concerns and your medical history. I will then perform a series of simple diagnostic tests (more details below under diagnostic services). Based on what I find, I prescribe herbal medicines tailored to your specific needs.

After you begin your health program, we expect to see obvious signs that you and your body are responding positively. A subsequent visit is arranged to ensure that you are doing well and to fine-tune or deepen the treatment as required. You will only need to keep coming back as long as necessary to regain your health.

Diagnostic services

~ History

I will want to know the history of your general health, particularly anything that may have led up to your current concerns. What has happened in the past often gives much insight into what is happening now.

For many of us, our biography becomes our biology.

If you have detailed information to convey about your medical history, you are welcome to make some notes to bring to your appointment. If you have past medical reports or lab tests, you are welcome to bring them too.   

~ Pulse and tongue diagnosis

Pulse and tongue diagnosis are an integral part of my diagnostic work-up.

All doctors of the past were herbalists and we had to figure out what was going on without lab tests! The arts of tongue and pulse diagnosis were at the forefront of every medical tradition – from the ancient Greek to the Chinese, Indian and Arabian traditions. They are just as valuable tools now as ever.

~ Live blood analysis

Live blood analysis is another general screening tool that can give an impression of the overall health of an individual. It is not used to diagnose illness or disease but rather as an aid, similar to the tongue and the pulse, that deepens our understanding of a person's current health status. After swabbing the finger with isopropyl alcohol to remove any surface debris, a small sample of blood is painlessly taken using a sterile, disposable device. This sample is gently applied to glass slides to ensure the cells receive minimal damage and we can see the blood as close to its natural state as possible. A special, clear oil is then dropped onto the blood which enables 'immersion microscopy'. This means we can achieve extremely high magnifications of more than 1000x. Used with integrity, blood analysis is a very helpful 'window' into the body, especially useful as a 'before and after' test to ensure that positive changes are taking place from the early stages of treatment.

~ Cholesterol testing

If needed, we can elect to measure your cholesterol levels. The machine that I use has been given the highest possible accuracy standards by the NZQA. It measures total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Trigylcerides and the test results come back in just a few minutes.

Cholesterol is a complex issue. With most people I am much less concerned with getting bad cholesterol down than I am about getting the good cholesterol up!

~ On the spot tests

There are a number of other simple procedures that can help fill in the picture when required. They include reading your blood pressure, temperature testing, blood sugar tests, blood oxygen levels, hydrogen testing from the breath (useful for assessing bacterial overgrowth in the gut) and physical examination of the spine and abdomen.

~ Prescription medicines

After gaining a full picture of the state of your health, I recommend a herbal treatment programme designed specifically for you.

We operate a fully stocked herbal dispensary as an integral part of our clinical practice. Most of the medicines are made on the premises starting from the highest grade raw dried herb material.

~ Herbal extracts

Herbal extracts are dark, concentrated liquids that you take in drops or mls each day (a typical starting dose might be two or three tsps in a day). Combining a number of different extracts together enables a formula to be tailor made exactly for each patient.

Although many people prefer the ease of taking a pill over liquid extracts, to reach the equivalence of a typical full adult dose of extracts you would need to swallow one or two large handfuls of pills or capsules every day.

The taste can be an initial hurdle, though people frequently become accustomed to the taste quickly, and often even grow to like it! The flavour of extracts can be much reduced by diluting the dose with a small amount of water (approx 10 mls), swallowing it quickly and immediately following up with a small drink of water or other liquid.

~ Teas and decoctions

Teas and decoctions are frequently used as a support for the primary medicinal action of the extracts, but may also be used as health tonics in their own right. A tea is soaked, or ‘infused’ in boiled water and a decoction is simmered in boiling water. They also allow a strong dosage to be rapidly achieved. People get detailed instructions on how to prepare their tea or decoction if recommended.

~ Selected supplements

Nutritional supplements are sometimes used for a specific time, particularly where there are clinical signs of a deficiency. Likewise a few, selected herbal medicines can be used in the pill form, usually where lower doses are required to reach the therapeutic threshold or the herb has been concentrated to a much greater level than normal within a pill or capsule.

~ Adverse reactions

The herbs we use have been rigorously tested for their safety and effectiveness but we always encourage our patients to contact the clinic if they have any concerns.

~ Length of treatment

Unlike conventional drugs, herbal medicines do not suppress the symptoms of an illness, so generally do not produce the same immediate short-term results. They work over a longer period to aid your body to heal itself in a lasting way.

How much does it cost?

~ Clinic Fees

~ Diagnostic Services: (as required)

~ Prescription medicines

All prescription medicines are charged as per their cost. It is not uncommon for the costs of medicines to exceed the cost of the appointment, especially at the outset of the treatment program. 

~ Payment:

It is appreciated if fees can be paid at the time of the appointment.
Eftpos is available (including Visa and Mastercard credit cards), cash or cheques are also welcome.

Making contact

~ Hours:

We are open every week from Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 5:30pm.

~ For more information please go to the Contact Us page ~

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