FAQs

How will consulting with an herbalist benefit me?

An herbalist uses a holistic perspective to address underlying causes of an imbalance instead of treating symptoms. This requires active participation by the client in the healing process, usually involving dietary and lifestyle changes, as well as learning about what herbs and supplements can benefit you.

How safe are herbs and supplements?

Adverse reactions to herbs and supplements are possible but are rare and mild compared to over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Many reports of adverse reactions to herbs are based on poor data collection, such as failure to obtain a positive botanical identification, not considering medications that could have been responsible, an unreasonable period time after ingestion that a reaction occurred, or other causes not being ruled out. In comparison, side effects from prescription or over-the-counter medications are very common and can be serious. Prescription drugs are now the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer in the United States and Europe. Herbs still are used by the majority of the world’s population today, and have been used for thousands of years. Herbalists are trained in the safe use of herbs, which includes what herbs will be appropriate for a given individual.

Do herbs interact with medications?

Yes, herbs can interact with drugs, but significant adverse interactions are not common, and half the time interactions can be positive, by making it possible to reduce the dose of the drug, or protecting against adverse drug side effects. It is far more common for drugs to interact with each other or with foods, and when a person is prescribed six or more medications, interactions are almost guaranteed, yet this is often ignored. Certain drugs such as warfarin, cyclosporine, lithium, digoxin, or methotrexate are much more likely to interact with herbs adversely, while the herb St. John’s Wort affects detoxification pathways that lead to interactions with many drugs. If you are on medications this requires consulting with a trained herbalist, or a pharmacist or physician who is trained in herbal medicine. You can look it up online, but the information isn’t always accurate or does not indicate if the interaction is negative or positive.

How long will it take to see improvement in health?

This depends on how long a condition has existed, how well a person follows through with making necessary diet and lifestyle changes, environmental conditions, attitude, and genetic tendencies. Acute conditions usually resolve quickly and chronic conditions can take weeks or months to resolve. It can be like peeling layers of an onion, with more superficial problems resolving quickly and deeper issues requiring persistent effort to address. However, most people can experience improvements in energy, sleep, and digestion relatively quickly.

Are there any guarantees that an herbal approach will work?

Results depend on the efforts made to change diet and lifestyle, as well as following herbal protocols. I will work with you to address any problems that may arise. If it is apparent that this is not suitable for you, I will refer you to the proper type of practitioner.