This website is maintained by a Medical Herbalist as an information resource for those interested in medicinal herbs and their applications - students of complementary and alternative medicine, botanists, gardeners, cooks, and anyone wanting to learn more about traditional herbal medicine. The Site Contents are listed below. If you intend to self-prescribe any herbal remedies, then you should first read the safety statement.
Christine's Blog!!
I've just started a blog! Everyone else seems to be doing it, so I thought I'd better get on board. PLEASE visit and post your thoughts, comments and ideas and that way I'll maybe learn how to use the damn thing - I'm not getting any younger you know! It's called 'Herbal Reflections'. No particular rules other than keep it clean, be nice, and no overt advertising. You should continue to contact me at my email address (see bottom of page) if you have an urgent question as I won't be logging in (or should that be 'blogging in'?) on a daily basis.
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COMING SOON - A NEW TV SERIES FROM JAMES WONG!
Pre-order his new book 'A Year With James Wong' from Amazon by clicking on the link below.
Grow Your Own Drugs: A Year with James Wong
James Wong is back, putting his ethnobotanical expertise to use
once again, with over 100 new, natural, cheap and easy remedies, showing you and
those around you how to have a fantastically healthy year. Whether you're fed up
with your hormones, worried about your baby's nappy rash, your partner is prone
to a sore-throat, or leg-waxing is proving just too expensive to maintain, Grow
Your Own Drugs: A Year With James Wong offers over 100 great new remedies to
soothe all manner of common conditions and beauty problems - whenever they might
flare up. James shows how easy it to have access to the right ingredients
whatever the weather, with his easy-to follow seasonal focus - whether you've
got a window box, a roof terrace, a country garden (or a computer to order the
goods online!). His seasonal planner takes you right through from Spring to
Winter, making sure you know what to plant when, the best time to harvest and
how to create your own mini-apothecary (or store-cupboard) at home. Packed with
James's personal top tips and easy solutions for both growing and making
remedies, this is your must-have companion to help ward off any ailments and
complaints which might crop up throughout the year, the natural, James Wong way.
FEATURES: / Over 100 new remedies / New seasonal guide - how to make sure you
have all the ingredients you need for a healthy body and mind all year round /
New non-gardener's guide: if you're not green-fingered or don't have a garden,
James reveals how to identify plants and how to source good quality ingredients
online / More about James's personal inspirations: how he came to a career in
ethnobotany, how he goes about living his own GYOD year and why a seasonal
approach is important and easy to adopt / James's top tips and new gift flashes
(perfect for cheap, thoughtful presents) / New case studies: how people who've
tried and tested the remedies have got on / New HOME section: brilliant natural
and cheap remedies for home life. Contains pet flea powder, horsetail metal
polish, wood polish, carpet deodoriser, etc.
BBC2 'GROW YOUR OWN DRUGS' Series 1:
Most of the ingredients James Wong uses in his series are available from the Purple Sage Shop (see menu at top of page). Click on the links to the recipes at the Grow Your Own Drugs website or buy the DVD! (see below)
James Wong encourages us to grow or gather our herbs ourselves, and this is a great idea, encouraging us to learn about botany and to get outside for some fresh air and exercise. However, be warned that it is illegal in the UK to uproot any wild plant (although, of course, you may carefully gather a few blooms or berries). It's also worth reminding you that herbs growing close to roads will have absorbed nasty vehicle exhaust emissions and those growing in and around arable fields may have become contaminated with pesticide and fertiliser residues. Take care, and always refer to a good wildflower field guide to ensure you don't pick the wrong thing. If you are unable to accurately identify a plant, then leave it alone.
Buy the book at reduced price from Amazon by clicking here
DVD of Series One now available too! Click on the link below
News: This section is regularly updated to include items on current research in herbal medicine, interesting ways in which herbs are used, events happening around the country, and lots more.
Herb Profiles: An expanding database of monographs on individual herbs and their medicinal uses. These can be located by either the Common or Botanical name and are accompanied by a glossary of medical terminology used in the text.
Treatments: This section deals with a selection of common ailments and possible herbal treatments.
Shop: Buy dried herbs, herbal tinctures, herbal capsules, lotions & potions, books, gifts and much more. The Online Shopping Basket is available only to UK customers. Orders from overseas are welcome too, but you must email your order to me so that I can work out shipping costs to your country.
Books: A list of recommended reading on herb growing, identification, medicinal uses, folklore, etc. You may also buy these titles online. Or have a look at the herbal books Amazon is recommending this month by clicking here.
Recipes: Seasonal recipes and simple crafts using herbs and spices.
Links: Other sites which you may find of interest, including suppliers of herb seeds and plants, how to find your nearest medical herbalist, conservation organisations, holidays & activities, and lots more.
About me: My name is Christine Haughton
and I am a medical herbalist
living and working in North Yorkshire, England. I am a member of the National
Institute of Medical Herbalists, the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy
and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health.
My practice is located in West Heslerton - about 10 miles east of Malton and 12 miles west of Scarborough, North Yorkshire. If you would like to make an appointment, please call 01944 728305 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday - it would be appreciated if you call only during these times. If I am unable to take your call, please leave a message with your name and telephone number so that I can call you back. Alternatively, send an email to woldfarm@aol.com. Please note that you should telephone ONLY if you wish to make an appointment - I'd prefer you to use email for all other enquiries so as to keep disruption of my patient consultations to a minimum.
I generally undertake consultations Mondays to Wednesdays, from 10am until 5pm. Disabled access is difficult but not impossible - let me know if you require help. You should allow up to an hour and a half for a first consultation and up to 45 minutes for follow-up visits.
NB. I am not permitted to give specific medical advice to individuals over the internet or telephone so please don't waste your time by emailing or calling me with detailed information about your health problems - I can only undertake face-to-face consultations for what should be obvious reasons. If you would like to have a consultation with a medical herbalist then you should click here to find a qualified practitioner in your area.
By the way, the name 'Purple Sage' was inspired by the 70's San Francisco band New Riders of the Purple Sage of 'Lonesome LA Cowboy' fame!
The information and recommendations contained within this web site are not intended to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified practitioner. I cannot accept responsibility for any adverse effects which arise from self-medication. Any persistent condition should always be referred to a medical herbalist or doctor, and all medicines, including herbs, should be avoided during pregnancy unless prescribed by a doctor or herbalist. Never give herbs to babies and children without checking with a qualified professional first. Likewise, never take herbs in conjunction with other medication without first checking whether it is safe to do so.
Many individuals practice as herbalists in spite of having little or no training in medical or botanical sciences. Therefore, it is important to choose a qualified practitioner who is a member of a professional organisation with appropriate insurance. They should have completed a minimum of three years training, - you should never be afraid to ask for evidence of this. Just because herbs are 'natural', it does not mean that they are safe for everyone to use. Only a trained practitioner will be fully aware of potential adverse effects and herb-drug interactions, and will be able to recognise those circumstances in which herbs may not be the most appropriate treatment.
To find your nearest qualified medical herbalist, contact the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) or the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy (CPP), whose members have all undergone a rigorous three to four-year training course and who adhere to a strict professional code of ethics. Contact details are listed below. Your local Yellow Pages may also list herbalists in your area.
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National Institute of
Medical Herbalists Elm House 54 Mary Arches Street Exeter EX4 3BA Tel. 01392 426022 |
College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy Oak Glade 9 Hythe Close Polegate East Sussex BN26 6LQ Tel. 01323 484353 email: pamela.bull@btopenworld.com
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USA The American Herbalists Guild (AHG) 1931 Gaddis Road Canton GA 30115 Tel. 770-751-6021 email: ahgoffice@earthlink.net |
Australia National Herbalists Association NHAA Office PO Box 45 CONCORD WEST NSW 2138 Australia Ph: (02) 8765 0071 email: nhaa@nhaa.org.au |
Here's what Amazon is recommending this week