Types of Medicine

Herbal medicine may be prescribed in one or more forms: Infusions, Tinctures, Creams, Lotions and Gels.

Infusions

This is the 'herbal tea' form of herbal medicine. It is a gentle form of giving remedy. I dispense teas most often when treating babies and infants or to complement a more fuller herbal medicine programme. Herbal teas are also a good way to work with disorders of the digestive system.

Tinctures

Qualified Consultant Medical Herbalists most commonly work with concentrated herbal extracts called tinctures. From the several hundred I carry in my dispensary I choose the six or seven that make up an individual patient's herbal prescription. Each patient receives a prescription tailored to meet their individual health concerns.

Tinctures are made by soaking the herb to be extracted in a ratio of water and alcohol. The alcohol is important to extract all of the non-water soluble parts from the plant, and to preserve the tincture.

My patients take their prescription 2 – 3 times a day diluted in a little water.

Creams, Lotions & Gels

I dispense bespoke creams made from natural oils and gels made with aloe vera when I want to apply remedy locally to alleviate skin conditions and soft muscle damage.