Liz is a qualified Medical Herbalist and also a Reflexologist, with an
interest in how the body and mind works and communicates on a physical and
energetic level.
She has lived in the North Devon/Exmoor area for most of her life and loves
the diversity the countryside offers. Interests include walking, reading,
horticulture, language, animals, and. of course herbs.
Liz is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, which was
founded in 1864 and is the oldest association of its kind. She is also a
member of the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy, which is also a
professional association for herbalists but with slightly more emphasis on
research and science.
Herbal medicine is the oldest form of medicine known, with references
appearing in ancient texts all over the world from as far back as 3000 BC.
It has often been threatened but always managed to survive.
According to the World Health Organisation about 80% of the world’s
population still rely on traditional plant medicine, and they have suggested
that if today’s population wish to remain healthy they should think about
returning to more traditional methods of health care rather than
technological medicine.
A consultation with a medical herbalist begins with taking a lengthy case
history, which includes details of the condition, medical history,
medications and supplements taken, lifestyle and work factors. Some of the
questions may appear unrelated to the presenting complaint, but everything
helps the herbalist to build a picture of the disorder, and any underlying
imbalance.
Usually a personalised prescription is made up - and this could a mixture
of tinctures, tea, creams, etc. - and advice on nutrition and lifestyle is
given.
The majority of plants used are bought in from reliable and sustainable
sources. It would be lovely to be able to grow all the plants to be used,
but unfortunately not a reality - partly because it is not always possible
in this climate to grow and harvest successfully, partly because different
plants require different growing conditions - altitude, latitude, type of
soil, etc. - and partly because you would need a small army of helpers!
Herbs are often described as “safe” medicine. This statement can be
misleading because some plants - or their constituents - can interact with
allopathic medication, or can aggravate a person’s medical condition. A
medical herbalist is trained to have knowledge of these interactions and
side effects and the detailed case history is very important in this aspect.
The training is a 4 year course to degree level, studying subjects such as
botany, horticulture, anatomy and physiology, medicine, pathology,
differential diagnosis, pharmacy, pharmacology, geriatrics, psychiatry,
dermatology, and of course the herbs themselves, and practice management.
This is backed up with Continuing Professional Development so it is a
continual learning cycle, keeping up to date with medical research and
health issues. The training is in the same diagnostic skills as mainstream
doctors but there is a more holistic approach to the treatment/
Reflexology is an ancient art, depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphs, and is
believed to have reached Europe via the Roman Empire. It did not appear in
the Western world until the early twentieth century, when a technique known
as Zone Therapy was introduced. Zone therapy worked on the theory that 5
vertical lines on each foot depict a mirror image of the body on each side.
It is a forerunner of Reflexology, and elements of Zone Therapy are
incorporated in the treatment session.
Reflexology can be carried out on the Hand, Ear or Foot but surprisingly the
foot is much more sensitive. Each part of the foot refers to an organ or
part of the body and imbalances can be detected as small deposits or tender
areas.
Reflexology is not a diagnosis or a cure, but helps the body to maintain
balance. It also has connections with meridians and the flow of energy in
the body. A session can be purely for relaxation or part of a series of
treatments to help with a particular condition.
Both Herbal Medicine and Reflexology are helpful for a wide range of
conditions and suitable for all ages. They can also be combined as one
treatment, acting in synergy.
