What is Herbal Medicine?
Herbal Medicine utilizes the natural, beneficial properties of plants and plant extracts in the treatment and prevention of a number of diseases and conditions.
Herbal Medicine is one of the world’s oldest systems of medicinal care. Herbs have been used to treat illness and maintain health for thousands of years, indeed many of the pharmaceutical drugs used currently are based on plant constituents. Today, herbal medicine remains the most widely practiced form of medicine across the globe, while in Ireland there is a long and established tradition in the use of herbs as medicine.
- Herbal Medicine is patient centred; we treat the whole person not just the illness. This involves identifying the origin and
cause of the problem, rather than just treating symptoms. - Herbal medicine is safe and effective for both adults and children.
- Herbal Medicine can be used on its own or in combination with pharmaceutical drugs.
- Medical Herbalists are trained to avoid any interactions between drugs and herbs and may well be used to minimise the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs.
Ena Walsh, Medical Herbalist
I completed four years training in Herbal Medicine at the highly respected Scottish School of Herbal Medicine, graduating with
an honours degree from the University of Wales. I am also a member of the Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists (MIIMH), the professional governing body for degree qualified Medical Herbalists in Ireland.
My career began as a Research Scientist, in University College Dublin, where I completed my Ph.D. As Dr Ena Walsh, I was a senior executive in the pharmaceutical industry and my area of expertise was in drug development and included the management
of clinical trials.
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As a Medical Herbalist I am trained in conventional western medical diagnostic techniques, in the same manner as a normal General Practitioner. In addition, I take a holistic approach and look at all levels of health; including constitutional, emotional and lifestyle factors in addition to signs and symptoms. I treat the whole person and care about what the individual person wants out of treatment. |
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