Herbal medicine is extremely safe, especially given how effective it is. The herbs I prescribe have thousands of years of empirical evidence proving their safety and reliability as medicines, with well-established safety considerations and contraindications.

I make my own high-quality medicines from primarily native Scottish plants, either foraged for or grown in my local area. This means that I can harvest them at the perfect time from unpolluted places, use the correct parts, manufacture them carefully, and store them appropriately.

This makes my practice even safer.

I also occasionally buy medicines from UK-based organic or biodynamic suppliers, but only those who care as much about safety and quality as I do.

The herbs I use are made from the whole of the plant rather than extracts of particular chemical constituents, and this means side-effects are rare and tend to be very mild (if they happen at all).

If you were to experience side-effects of any kind then I’d recommend switching to a different herb or formula rather than persevering with something that’s causing you discomfort. Side-effects usually mean that the herb in question isn’t right for you.

I’ll be closely monitoring how you respond to the herbs, so if any side-effects do occur we’ll be able to make changes where necessary – quickly and effectively.

I use very small doses of tinctures – liquid mixtures of herbs extracted in alcohol and water – in my practice. Each dose is usually 1ml, and the alcohol content is typically 20%; to put this into perspective, a medium-sized glass of orange juice would contain much more alcohol!

For most people, even if they typically avoid alcohol recreationally, this is a safe and manageable amount.

I’ve been trained to prescribe herbs in conjunction with pharmaceutical medicines. Some herbs and pharmaceutical medicines should not be mixed together, and I’ll be aware of any potential interactions or contraindications.

If this is a concern for you, we can discuss the pharmaceuticals you’re taking prior to organising a consultation, and check that there won’t be any problems.

If you’re routinely taking pharmaceutical medicines then you may understandably be keen to switch to a safer and more natural alternative.

During our work together it’s likely that you’ll be able to reduce your pharmaceutical medicines and perhaps eventually stop taking them altogether. Your safety is my first priority, however, so this process must be approached with care (and some pharmaceuticals may not be appropriate to reduce).

We’ll probably initially look to stabilise your symptoms with herbs while you remain on your pharmaceutical medication. Then we’ll draw up a plan for drug withdrawal, focusing on one drug at a time and usually taking place over many weeks or months. We’ll need to monitor your symptoms closely and ensure you have time to adjust to reduced dosages.

Reducing pharmaceutical drugs is necessarily a slow process. Rushing things can be counterproductive and potentially harmful, although of course all decisions regarding when to stop or reduce medications are yours to take.

The ideal scenario from my perspective is that once drugs have been completely withdrawn you would continue to take herbs until these can also be gradually removed, leaving you either entirely or predominantly drug- and herb-free, and coping well.