An excellent safety record is one of the great reasons for using herbal medicines. 0verall, herbal medicines are far safer than conventional medicines.
Herbalists do not cover up illness by suppressing symptoms but instead we view symptoms as signposts to underlying causes of ill health. It is these underlying root causes that are addressed with herbs, diet and lifestyle, in order to support health.
We believe that this is a gentle, safe and effective way to work.
Some herbal medicines do have side effects and interactions, but medical herbalists understand how to minimise these effects through their knowledge, training and experience.
Side effects can also arise when active constituents are isolated from the herb by the pharmaceutical industry in an attempt to standardise. However, herbalists ensure that the whole plant is taken, so that the plants' other constituents can be allowed to counteract these side effects.
This is an example of the 'whole being greater than the sum of its parts'.
This synergy and holism are hallmarks of herbal medicine.