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
Herbal medicine
Herbal medicine is based on the oldest and most universal system of medicine. A hundred years ago most drugs were plant-based and every early community around the world used plants as their main source of medicines. Today, herbal medicine applies modern research and the highest professional standards to the rational use of natural medicines that have stood the test of centuries. They have often been well researched in Europe .
In herbal medicine plants are used to help the body heal itself .
It is more about individual needs than textbook diseases or instant cures. Herbalists believe that the active constituents, which scientists isolate and extract, are balanced within the plant and made more or less powerful by the numerous other substances present. The main difference between modern medicine and herbal medicines is that herbal medicine is based on the plant as it is found in nature, rather than on single chemical ingredients.
Why use herbal medicine?
A major advantage of implementing natural healing is that nature has an innate intelligence that is not merely directed at removing superficial symptoms but in restoring balance as well. Herbs can bring us into balance, lifting our spirits and elevating our mood. They can bind to cancer - promoting hormones, detoxify the liver, strengthen the endocrine system, enhance the immune system, assist in regulating body temperature, remove obstructions and accumulated toxins – and all in collaboration with our own innate healing vital force.
How is herbal medicine used?
Herbal medicine is simple and safe to take under the guidance of a professional. It is used both internally and externally, depending on the requirements of the patient. The commonest form of treatment is through tinctures and teas.
What is involved? The practitioner looks beyond assessing symptoms to the overall balance of the body's systems in order to discover any underlying, predisposing disharmonies. The first consultation takes one hour during which you are asked for information about your present illness and other relevant details. Diet and lifestyle are discussed and tests are carried out. During treatment you will be seen regularly to assess your progress and to make necessary adjustments to your prescription.
Medication You will be given a mixture of several herbs, each one chosen carefully for its specific actions which may be enhanced when used in particular combinations. The purpose of the mixture is not only to relieve symptoms, but to help nature restore the body and to correct physiological imbalances.
How long before I can expect to see some changes?
You may start to feel better quite soon, but in many cases improvement occurs over a period of time and recovery may be more gradual. Give your body time to heal.
If you are taking medication prescribed by your doctor, make sure that you let me know exactly what it is. Herbs normally enhance the action of drugs and can be taken alongside your prescription.