During your first consultation your herbalist will build up a picture of you and your health. You might discuss the nature, onset and progression of your complaint, as well as any investigations you have had to date.

The aim of a first consultation is to draw up an overall picture of you and your health, and determine what is the nature of your complaint.

In order to recommend a treatment plan, a herbalist will generally look at:

• your medical history

• family history

• treatment history (including prescriptions and any over the counter products)

• lifestyle (exercise, social life...)

• diet

In some cases, further testing may be required to establish a diagnosis. It can be a simple physical examination (listening to your breathing, taking your blood pressure, checking your reflexes, etc.), or you could be referred to your GP for further testing.

Following your initial consultation, you will have been recommended an individual treatment plan based on herbal remedies and possibly other lifestyle considerations. In most instances, you will be prescribed a tincture to be taken in 5ml doses two or three times a day. 

After the initial consultation, your herbalist will normally arrange for three or four shorter consultations to assess your progress, followed by further check-ups every three to six months.

Herbal medicines work in a gentle and subtle way and can therefore take longer to work.