therapies

Medical Herbalism

Herbal Medicine is the use of plant material to treat a wide range of illnesses. Although herbalists undergo a thorough training in conventional medical disciplines, we work holistically to ensure that the herbs we prescribe are tailored to fit the individual patient’s health profile. Therefore two individuals who require treatment for the same condition are unlikely to come away from a herbalist with identical prescriptions.

Herbal medicine may be used to treat acute conditions such as colds and flu, but really comes into its own in the treatment of chronic conditions. When correctly prescribed by a medical herbalist, Herbs have very few side effects, so may be safe to use long-term and may work perfectly well alongside prescribed medication.

Therapist - Mala Bissoon
I have been practising as a Medical Herbalist since 2001 after completing a four year Degree course at the College of Phytotherapy. This was an in-depth and well-rounded training, which provided a very sound base to practice as it covered both traditional use of herbs and the scientific and clinical basis of their use.

The most appealing thing about herbal medicine is its simplicity. Some of our most powerful and versatile herbs are weeds you would find in your garden, or the hedgerows, waste ground or public land. Some of them are pests you may spend years annhilating (such as horsetail) but are irreplaceably useful in the dispensary.

Herbal Medicine used to be the primary source of healthcare in this country, as it still is in many others. Every household used to have its favourite remedies to treat sore throats, colds or fevers, but over time this knowledge has been lost to most.

Herbal Medicine can often provide a safe alternative to visiting your doctor, but always ensure that the herbalist you choose has been properly trained and belongs to one of the major professional organisations.

I run the unit in Surface and Living Anatomy at London College of Traditional Acupuncture,
I teach Anatomy & Physiology for Community Education Lewisham, as part of their ITEC range of courses. They also occasionally run short courses on the making of Skincare Products- in which I play an active part