Articles by Steena Barnett - Medical Herbalist

 

ARE ALL HERBS SAFE?

 

Many people believe herbs don't work but are also dangerous!! You need to ask yourself –it is the herb
at fault or is it the product?
Everything is dangerous in the wrong dose and some herbs can be wrong for some conditions ie giving a herb such as lemon balm to somebody with low blood pressure may further lower the blood pressure but give it to somebody with high blood pressure-it works very well and they will feel a lot better.

Some people will have an idiosyncratic reaction to a herb-unforeseen and rarely happens but it can
be like a shellfish allergy-it can happen to some people but it doesn't mean the rest of us need to stop
eating shellfish.

 

WHEN IS IT NOT SAFE TO TAKE HERBS?

 

If you do not know what is in the medication and nobody will tell you. If the prescriber cannot back it up with proven research either clinical or evidence based-don't take it!!
When you have heard a particular herb is useful and buy it without checking whether it is the right herb for you.
When the person prescribing it doesn't have a background in herbal medicine.
Many teas and herbs are very safe but if you are onany orthodox medication or require a therapeutic
dose-please come and see us in the clinic or email and we will do our best to assist you finding the correct
herb for you.

 

Herbalist Qualifications

 

Many people use herbalists and naturopaths as their primary source of health and advice. To check the practitioner does know what they are talking about-ask about their qualifications. They should be fully qualified and a member of a professional organization. Members of NHAA (National Herbalists Association of Australia) ANTA (Australian Natural therapies association) all have to be a certain standard within their qualification, have insurance, and keep themselves updated within their profession.

They are also held accountable for their actions and can be thrown out of their professional organization for misconduct.

Any good health practitioner will be only too happy for you to question their qualifications before deciding to see them.
The NHAA is currently lobbying for Australia wide registration of practitioners, this will ensure standards are kept high and consumers are safeguarded against rogue practitioners.

 

 

 

 

Copyright
Steena Barnett, M.N.I.M.H, M.N.H.A.A., Cert Phyt (1990)