Finding a herbalist
Can you point me in the direction of bona fide herbalists working in my area? If you don’t keep a list, do you know who does?
There are two routes you can go with this. If you want a medical herbalist, then you are likely to be treated in the same way as when you visit the doctor; you will describe your symptoms, the herbalist will make a diagnosis and prescribe the correct herb or herbs in a safe dosage to treat your ailment. The difference is, you will be given herbs, not drugs but since half of all prescription drugs either come from herbs or are a chemical imitation, the gap between conventional and alternative treatment in this instance is not as big as you might think.
If you are looking for a more holistic mind/body spirit approach, you need a herbalist who has had a more European and naturopathic training. They will probably hold a diploma in herbal medicine or even a certificate in herbal healing. (The latter is an unregulated field so only go to someone who has been recommended by word-of-mouth or who can prove extensive clinical experience and good results with the condition you want them to treat.)
You could, of course, also consider the Traditional Chinese or Ayurvedic systems of natural medicine which both rely heavily on herbal remedies too. With Chinese medicine, it is not uncommon for a tailor-made remedy to include 16 or more different herbs and again, the important thing is to consult someone who knows what they are doing.
Wherever you live in the country, the following groups can help: The National Institute of Medical Herbalists (01392-426022); The British Herbal Medicine Association (01453-751389); The British Naturopathic Association (01458-840072); The College of Naturopathic Medicine (01342-410303) which trains herbalists in a Western and Eastern disciplines.