Penny Povey – Named as one of ‘London’s 50 most wanted health gurus’ - Evening Standard, 2nd May 2006
Penny Povey
Dip. Phyt. MCPP Medical Herbalist
About me…
It was in Africa when I was a child that I first witnessed the use of herbal medicine. I used to watch, fascinated, as Africans made their own medicines from flowers, leaves or barks. These memories formed the basis for my belief that what we eat affects our health. I am amazed that herbal medicine is contained in so many of the plants that grow all around us.
When my mother had leukaemia, our family nursed her with nutrition and herbs, which gave her a further 8 happy months of life before she succumbed to the harsh side effects of chemotherapy. Her death affected me deeply and I decided to become a medical herbalist so that I could help people stay healthy by using food and medicinal herbs when the body becomes diseased.
A Solid Foundation
I completed a rigorous four years of training at the College of Phytotherapy in East Sussex . The course covered orthodox diagnostic skills combined with a holistic approach to illness and a comprehensive study of herbs and nutrition.
I became the senior medical herbalist at Farmacia, Urban Healing and both my practice and experience have grown from there.
In 2000 I was introduced to bio-energetic medicine. This form of medicine uses ‘soft' science as well as ‘hard' science. I treat each person as unique, with their own set of requirements. Electro-acupressure defines these requirements and offers a safe, effective method of helping both acute and chronic health issues. While practising I have met some of the leading figures in 21 st century medicine.
I also work alongside a holistic dental practitioner in central London using herbal medicine to aid the detoxification necessary to reduce toxins which develop in the mouth. It is widely accepted that many systemic diseases can originate in the mouth, e.g. periodontal disease causing heart problems.
My approach is very down to earth and I try to give advice in an easy to follow format geared to our hectic modern life. We should all try to take responsibility for our own health.
I like to be creative when finding ways to solve health problems! I believe that it is important to see the big picture and not get trapped into perceiving people and events in the same old ways.
Writing a monthly feature in Natural Health and Beauty magazine as The Holistic Healer gives me the opportunity to encourage everyone to take more responsibility for their own health and to seek professional adv ice where needed.
I make every effort to keep up to date with the newest developments in herbal medicine and particularly in reference to the interactions of herbs with drugs.
I practise in three clinics: Farmacia Urban Healing (www.farmacia123.com), in Selfridges on Oxford Street ; Ella Clinic, Wimpole Street and in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
Being a member of the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy (www.phytotherapists.org) I am fully insured and subject to a code of ethics and disciplinary procedure.