Herbal medicine is probably the oldest form of medicine in the world, with evidence of its use stretching back at least 60,000 years to Neolithic times. Today, modern scientific research is starting to provide explanations for the effectiveness of herbal medicines in treating a wide variety of conditions.

The first consultation lasts up to 90 minutes, during which the herbalist asks about your symptoms, examines you and prescribes medicines tailored to your needs. The length of the consultation allows your whole health to be taken into account, not just the symptoms that have lead you to seek treatment. For example, no matter what your medical condition, if you sleep badly, the resulting tiredness reduces your body’s ability to heal itself. Your herbal treatment will take factors such as this into account as well as your main symptoms.

Some herbs can affect the way that conventional medicines work, so if you are taking medicines prescribed by your doctor, it is important that you bring them with you to your first appointment. However, herbal medicines can be used either alongside, or as an alternative to conventional drugs.

Herbal medicines come in a variety of forms – liquid medicines taken by the spoonful, as well as herbal teas, tablets, creams and ointment.

What can herbal medicine treat?

Herbal medicine can treat almost any condition, but is particularly suitable for chronic conditions, for example:

• Eczema and psoriasis
• Arthritis and rheumatism
• Menstrual and menopausal disorders
• Chronic fatigue/ME
• Migraine and other headaches
• Recurrent infections
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes treated with diet and tablets
• Asthma
• Hay Fever
• Chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• Stress, insomnia and depression


Natalia Kerkham BSc(Hons), MNIMH
Medical Herbalist


Natalia obtained her degree in Herbal Medicine from the University of Central Lancashire in 2003, and has practised in South Warrington ever since.

Originally a finance manager in the NHS, Natalia changed career after one of her children had herbal treatment. “After months of emergency GP appointments and broken nights, we had a healthy child again, and life returned to normal,” she says. “I wanted to be able to make that kind of difference for other people.”

Natalia is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (www.nimh.org.uk), the UK’s leading body of professional herbalists. Members carry full insurance, and are subject to a code of ethics and a complaints procedure.