Herbalists Hackney. Herbal Medicine Clinics in North & East London

Clapton

Elsa Hamaz B.Sc. (Hons) Herbal Medicine, MNIMH

14 Fletching Road

Lower Clapton

London E5 9QP

Tel: 020 8533 0342 Mobile: 07939 610 283
Email: elsahamaz@btopenworld.com

For further information about herbalism with Elsa please visit her website herbalistix.co.uk

Herbal Medicine

One can trace the history of plants used as medicines to ancient times. Herbal medicine was the accepted form of treament in the Western world before drug based medicine came to the fore as scientists were able to isolate active ingredients in plants to develop drugs. This new drug-based medicine or allopathy became established, leading to the abandonment of herbal remedies. Even today, around 25% of prescription medicines have their origin in plants. In spite of the new philosophy in treating disease, the tradition of herbal remedies continued to be developed and it still remains worldwide the most widely practiced form of medicine.

Herbalists believe in the use of the whole plant, not just taking an isolated active fraction. The whole plant is more than the sum of its parts as far as herbailsts are concerned. While this may mean it is less potent and take longer to work, there is a synergy and balancing effect derived from using the whole plant which improves the healing potential. This allows deep-seated nutritional and biochemical imbalances to be corrected.

Herbalists believe in a subtle energy or vital force within human beings that can lose its harmony to bring about ill health. Providing the appropriate stimulus is provided the body will respond by healing itself. There are different types of herbalists. A medical herbalist is trained in the same diagnostic skills as doctors of orthodox medicine but seeks to find the underlying cause of illness, and restore harmony to the body as a whole, not just suppress symptoms.

The first consultation may take an hour. A medical history is taken and questions may be asked about diet and lifestyle etc. Pulse, blood pressure, urine and blood tests may also be required depending on the problem. Herbs will be prescribed as needed. They come in various forms such as tinctures, tablets, capsules, creams, oils, ointments and teas.

Further information about Elsa's herbal remedies can be found at London Herbalist