Max Drake MNIMH
   medical herbalist

Western herbal medicine is characterised by a person-centred approach, where the patient rather than the disease is the focus of the practitioner’s attention.

The patient  is assessed through a thorough case history, taking account of family history, personal health history and lifestyle choices.

The therapy is directed at the causes, not just the presenting symptoms. Treating the body as a whole involves working not only with the physical, but also the mental and emotional aspects of the condition.

The practitioner uses the information obtained during the taking of the case history to make an assessment of the vitality and constitution of the patient.  The choice of herbs in the prescription is based on this assessment.

The prescription, rather than being based simply on the diagnosis of a disease or condition, is determined by an understanding of the significance of the signs and symptoms in that individual. Prescriptions may vary substantially between individual patients apparently presenting with a similar condition.

Herbal treatment is commonly backed up by appropriate advice on lifestyle, particularly nutrition, and the practitioner works at all times to create a positive ambience of  mutual trust in the therapeutic relationship.

Plants contain countless numbers of chemicals and have their own energetic qualities. These work together providing safe and gentle remedies to work with your own innate capacity to heal. Herbs help to maintain health as well as remedy disease.

The safety record of herbal medicines in trained hands is excellent. Herbal medicines individually prescribed and combined by a herbalist are also more deeply effective than over-the-counter herbal remedies.

The NIMH was established in 1864. It is the oldest body of practising medical herbalists in the world. Members have undergone a rigorous four year training in medical sciences, clinical skills, and herbal therapeutics. They are fully insured and adhere to a strict professional code of ethics and mandatory continuing professional development. For further information about NIMH contact: