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Healing with
Herbal Medicine
At the heart of the practice of vitalist herbal medicine is the understanding that we humans, like all living things, have an extraordinary, in-built, natural intelligence that knows how to self-repair from injury or illness.
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Herbs were our first medicines. Over countless generations, our ancestors have learned, refined, and passed on vital knowledge about which herbs could reliably ease suffering or help remove such obstacles to self-repair as infection, poor digestion, impaired elimination etc. Those leaves, roots, barks, berries, flowers, and fruits that we and other animals instinctively sought out when we were sick have been the subjects of an on-going clinical trial for 'what works' for many tens of thousands of years, and it continues.
Today, the World Health Organisation recognises that herbs are still, by far, the most widespread form of medicine used on our planet. The great test of time has proven which herbal medicines work, now the tests of science are helping us to understand how they work, and in that process, new possibilities continue to come to light.
Most people do not need to become dependent on pharmaceutical drugs in order to care for themselves or their loved ones. Herbs are the 'people's medicine’, they can never be patented or taken away from us. The herbs used in modern herbal medicine have had their safety well established and adverse reactions are extremely rare.
That said, it needs to be understood that herbs contain complex chemicals that the body does not normally produce by itself, nor obtain from foods. Herbs are natural drugs, and the importance of giving the right dosage, not too much, not too little, of the unique chemistry in herbal medicines cannot be overstated.
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Many herbs can be taken in a straightforward 'this for that' kind of way however, to get a good result when treating a complex or chronic problem it can be essential to match the right remedies to the right person and people vary according to how they are naturally hotter or cooler, and at the same time dryer or damper. I will go into this in a lot of depth if we meet in person. ​
My Health Journey
When I was 18 years old I was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Cancer called Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I had the whole smorgasbord of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for 6 months. It was serious, I lost my youth quickly and had to grow up fast. However, I believe it was all meant to be part of my journey as it put me on the path of natural health.
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During my treatment I learned about all the amazing things I could do to naturally support my own healing. It was so empowering and I felt inspired to study Naturopathy so that I could help empower other people with their health too. I am grateful for modern medicine but feel there is also much we can do to complement it.
I graduated from the Naturopathic College of NZ in 2014 and I'm registered with the Naturopaths and Medical Herbalists of NZ association.​ Over past 10 years I have been in clinical practice alongside raising my two children.
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More recently my passion for plants and herbal medicine have led me to do further training with the Southern Institute of Medical Herbalism to deepen my knowledge in old traditional ways of healing using herbs in a constitutional and vitalist model of healing.
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When I meet a person I am very interested to work out their constitutional nature, where the causes of their health problems seem to be coming from, and which herb or herbs can best help them to get better and get back the most precious gift of life - their health!
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