Sue Bottomley - MRPharmS MNIMH
Medical Herbalist
I qualified as a Herbalist in 1994, following four years of training with the School of Herbal Medicine in East Sussex and have practised in Sheffield since then.
My original training was in pharmacy, which I studied in Bath from 1983-86, and I have worked in hospital and community pharmacies in Brighton, Bristol and Sheffield. I taught pharmacology to Herbal Medicine undergraduates for ten years, and currently deliver a seminar on Complementary and Alternative Medicine to medical students at the University of Sheffield.
About Medical Herbalism
Herbal medicine is the use of plant remedies to treat disease and is the oldest form of medicine known, as well as the most widely practised world-wide. Herbal medicines are extracts or dried parts of whole plants, which contain many hundreds of constituents. Herbalists believe that the active constituents are balanced within the plant and that this is one of the reasons that side effects are extremely rare during treatment.
Medical Herbalists are trained in similar diagnostic skills to conventional GPs but use a more holistic approach to illness, treating the underlying cause of a problem where possible. We use herbs to restore balance in the body and enable it to mobilise its own healing powers.
A wide range of acute and chronic conditions can be treated and a qualified Herbalist knows how to avoid interactions with other forms of treatment and when to refer a patient back to their doctor or to another therapist.
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists was established in 1864 and is the oldest body of practising Medical Herbalists in the world. Members have undergone a rigorous training for a minimum of three years and adhere to a strict professional code of ethics. They have the letters MNIMH or FNIMH after their names.
What happens during a consultation?
A first consultation lasts about an hour, which allows plenty of time for me to listen to a full description of your health problems, as well as any concerns you may have about your diet or lifestyle. I take a full case history and may carry out a physical examination if it is relevant. I may suggest ways in which you could change your diet to support your treatment.
I usually prescribe and dispense a mixture of herbs at the end of each appointment. The herbs are given in a form that is easy to take, and each medicine is made individually. I use my experience of orthodox medicines to help make judgements about the safe use of herbs when prescription medicines are also being taken, and can advise you if you are concerned about interactions with other treatments you are undergoing.
Subsequent appointments last half an hour and, if appropriate, I may dispense repeat prescriptions between appointments.
What can a Medical Herbalist treat?
I treat the whole person rather than just their illness and am happy to treat most people.
There are, however, some conditions which respond particularly well to herbs. These include skin problems, digestive disorders, menopausal problems, pre-menstrual syndrome and other menstrual or hormonal disorders, high blood pressure and circulatory disease, arthritis, chest complaints, headaches, stress and anxiety or depression. Allergies, infections and chronic fatigue syndrome also often respond well.
If you are unsure about whether Herbal Medicine is the right therapy for you, then I offer a free ten minute chat either in person or over the phone.