The use of whole plants either as single herbs (simples) or more commonly in combinations (formulae) is one of the oldest healing traditions in the world. It has only been for a relatively short time in recent history that herbal medicine has not been the mainstream system of healing in Britian.
In many parts of the world such as India (Ayurveda) herbs are still the main form of medicine on offer. Herbal medicine has stood the test of time and is showing itself to be of equal value today as it has been in the past.
I qualified as a Master Herbalist in 1990 and use mainly organically
grown or wild-crafted British herbs in my practice as I
have found them more effective and appropriate for use with people
living here.
I do combine these with a selection of special herbs from around the world for which there is no Western equivalent. I usually formulate a mixture of herbs to suit individual needs and this is adjusted as the healing process unfolds.
They are designed to work with the body as a whole to increase its own healing abilities rather than on a particular symptom If you wish to know more about Herbal Medicine please visit the EHPA website and The Association of Master Herbalists website on our Links page.
‘What is food for one man may be bitter poison to others’
- Lucretius, 1st century BC
Nutritional Therapy applies nutritional science to promote optimum health and peak performance, along with disease prevention and the care of the patient. This approach allows the Nutritional Therapist to work with people on many levels, and to tackle health problems by supporting the body towards normal function. In this way the practitioner can help alleviate a wide range of conditions and assist in the recovery from many situations of ill health. Common areas of work include:
• Digestive dysfunction
• Hormone imbalances
• Mental health
• Circulatory conditions
As a Nutritional Therapist I always give dietary and nutritional advice, and other recommendations which can include identification of possible environmental toxins, allergens or food intolerances, guidance on natural detoxification, methods to support digestion, absorption and the health of the colon (bowel). Each person is a unique individual and therefore requires a personalized nutrition programme, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ approach.
My training and experience in Nutritional Therapy
I qualified with distinction from The College of Dietary Therapy in 1984 and have been in clinical practice since then. I combine the use of Nutritional Therapy with herbal medicine. As a member of BANT (The British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy) I work within the National Occupational Standards for Nutritional Therapy, and the BANT Code of Ethics. I carry full professional insurance and regularly attend CPD (Continuing Professional Development) seminars to keep up to date with the latest developments in NT.
As I qualified over twenty five years ago the additional CPD training I have done over this time has covered a wide and varied area, including many of the new developments in the use of Laboratory Testing , new forms of Kinesiology testing, and the role of nutrition in mental health, learning and behavioural problems, Bio-Typing and Metabolic Typing, and others. More on Bio-Typing and Metabolic Typing
Although I also use traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda which are still very helpful today, many of the modern challenges to health we face today did not exist when these traditional systems were developed. I believe Nutritional Therapy has become particularly important in part because of these many new challenges that have been created by the modern world. These new challenges relate to the environment and the adverse effects of modern practices upon soil, food, water and air, as well as lifestyle factors that influence our health. They include nutritional deficiencies, food intolerance and allergy, along with new forms of toxicity and stress, digestive and other body system problems that relate to nutrition.
About taking nutritional supplements safely.
If you wish to know more about Nutritional Therapy please visit the BANT website on our Links page
The use of the eyes for diagnosis has been used for many thousands of years. For example the ancient Greeks and Chaldeans both used aspects of eye diagnosis.
In modern times it has been developed in Europe from the research of various doctors in Hungary and Germany. Iris markings show genetic individuality in the same way as finger prints. Many hundreds of patients eyes have been compared to show the patterns and pigments that indicate certain tendencies and dispositions. Understanding these can also help direct the appropriate course of treatment or prevention for an individual.
I often feel that looking at someones eyes is like looking at an architects plan of the house in which they live. This is a useful exercise before embarking upon any repair and restoration work. An individuals genetic tendencies (strengths and weaknesses) can be seen in the same way as an architects plan of a house shows the type of construction and plumbing it has, and how best to work with it.
I qualified with the National Council and Register of Iridologists in 1989 which had a strong influence from the scientific research done in Germany. I now combine this with behavioural iridology that has been pioneered in the USA. Read more.
What is
kinesiology? The word kinesiology comes from the Greek word ‘kinetic’
meaning ‘motion’, so kinesiology means 'the science
of the motion of the body'.
This name refers to the method of biofeedback used in kinesiology that tests the range and motion of specific muscles (of the arms and legs) to collect information from the body. It has developed into a system with many different branches.
Kinesiology has many applications and is not just a science but
to some extent also an art, a method of diagnosis and treatment
all in one. In general kinesiology considers the individual in
a holistic way as being made up of emotional, bio-chemical, structural
and energetic (acupuncture meridian) aspects that function together
and influence one another.
The aim is to create a balance of these four aspects of the individual and to thus restore or maintain good health. Read more.
I have for over twenty years studied many of the worlds traditional medical systems including the Ayurvedic (Indian), Greek, Chinese and Druidic (Celtic), and I call upon the healing wisdom from these traditions in my work when appropriate to modern day people and their problems.
I have found that these traditions all have more in common than they have differences. These things are fundamental and represent universal principles of healing. They all for example share a similar perennial philosophy which is a holistic one.
I have found that the Celtic and Greek (Hippocratic) healing traditions to be of most use to us in Britain because they relate more strongly to our ancestral heritage and the land in which we live.
Our modern Western culture has also created new and unnatural causes for health problems that did not exist when these traditional medical systems were developed. I have found also using modern Nutritional Therapy to help with these new problems works well in conjunction with the traditional systems.
Although an additional cost lab tests usually make both nutritional and herbal treatment more accurate and so can save money and sometimes shorten the length of treatment.
There is now an extended range of tests available that cover many conditions, body systems and most nutritional needs. Most of them are easy to do and use either small samples of saliva, urine or hair, and only a few involve taking blood.
Most of them you can do yourself and dispatch direct to the lab to save time. I have found good diagnosis to be of paramount importance, and without it there can be no effective treatment! I normally assess what the most appropriate lab tests will be (if any) for each individual during the first consultation. Read more