Types of Treatments We Offer
Overview of Treatments || Acupuncture || Naturopathy || Herbal Medicine || Nutrition || Counselling
TCM Remedial Massage || Bowen therapy || Weight Loss Programs || Diagnostic Techniques
Herbal medicine uses plant extracts from seeds, leaves, flowers, bark or whole plants as a therapeutic tool. Plants have been used for medicinal purposes throughout recorded history traditionally dispensed in decoctions, teas and baths. With the advent of science and modern medicine, specific constituents (the active ingredients) can be extracted and compounded into powders, tablets or liquid tinctures. Many common pharmaceutical medicines began as plant extracts such as Aspirin and Digoxin only to be refined and re-produced in synthetic form.
How does herbal medicine work?
Herbal medicines contain many constituents that work in synergy with a large number of active ingredients contributing to the therapeutic result. This is why whole plant extracts can be more effective - and produce fewer side effects - than isolated compounds. Its true what they say: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
A herbal medicine practitioner may prescribe remedies that provide symptomatic relief, but will also look at the underlying cause of an illness. In all natural medicine models, treating the whole person and treating the underlying cause are central philosophies. That is because health and disease is affected by a complex set of factors, including physical health, mental health, emotional wellbeing, genetic tendencies, environmental influences, and dietary intake. Herbalists recognise these intricate interactions, recommending treatments that aim to create overall balance and address underlying factors.
Who can benefit?
Herbal medicine can be used in almost all conditions; and people of any age from infants to the elderly can safely receive herbal therapy. The beauty of herbal medicine is that it can be adapted to each individual according to their condition. This may include a preference for tablets or tinctures, while also taking into account the different doses that are required for infants, children and adults.
Acute conditions that can be helped include:
- Coughs, colds and flus
- Ear infections
- Headaches
- Neck and shoulder tension, back pain, and other musculoskeletal complaints
- Upset digestion e.g. nausea, reflux, bloating
- Stress, anxiety and panic disorders
- Menstrual pain and PMS
Chronic conditions that can be helped include:
- Food allergies and intolerances
- Coeliac disease
- Cyclic migraines
- Allergic conditions e.g. asthma, eczema, dermatitis and hayfever
- Fatigue e.g. chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
- Arthritis e.g. osteoarthritis and symptoms such as joint pain
- Low immune function e.g. Glandular fever, coughs and colds, HIV/AIDS
- Auto-immune conditions e.g. lupus, rheumatoid arthritis
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Metabolic disorders e.g. diabetes, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and insulin resistance
- Menstrual disorders and hormone imbalance
- Infertility
- Menopause
- Anxiety and depression
- ADHD / Hyperactivity
- Autism and Aspergers syndrome
This list is not exhaustive - if you have a condition that isnt mentioned above, please contact us to find out how we can help.
What happens during a consultation?
You may be prescribed herbal medicine as part of a naturopathic or acupuncture consultation. During these consultations, your practitioner will spend time talking to you about your current health condition, present symptoms, recent history and other factors that may be impacting upon your health
How much will it cost?
Initial consultation (approximately 1 hour) $ 80
Long follow-up (approximately ½ hour) $70
Short follow-up (approximately Ό hour) $55
The cost of herbal medicines will vary depending on the individual prescription for more information, please discuss this with your practitioner during the consultation.
All consultations are eligible for Health Fund rebates
Concession and pensioner prices are available please contact us for more information.