Lucy Padiña   

Adv.Dip.HM, MNIMH, BAHons., PG Dip.Psych., Adv.Dip Tr. 

I am a consulting medical herbalist. having completed a four-year Advanced Diploma in Herbal Medicine. I have been rigorously trained in the medical sciences including diagnostic reasoning, anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology of disease, clinical examinations, pharmacognosy and drug/herb interactions. Alongside medical training, I have studied the materia medica (the medicinal plants) their constituents, therapeutic actions and uses and completed 500 hours of supervised clinical practice.

MY STORY

I have always had an interest in supporting people with their health and wellbeing. I trained initially in clinical social work and when qualified worked with adults with a range of physical, emotional and psychological difficulties. I then undertook clinical psychology studies for several years before taking a career break to raise my family.
Having always been interested in the medicinal power of plants (which began with seeing their power in action when a holistic vet recommended the use of herbs to treat my kitten’s ulcerative colitis), I then decided to take this further and commenced formal training in 2020.  

Herbal Medicine

Quite simply, herbal medicine is medicine derived from plants: sometimes the whole plant or sometimes specific parts (for example leaves, flowers, roots or bark). This has been the main source of medicine for thousands of years.
In Herbal Medicine the plant in its natural form is used, rather than extracts of isolated chemical constituents as is the case in allopathic (pharmaceutical) medications. The reason that Medical Herbalists prefer to use whole plants is connected with the synergistic action of the individual chemical constituents found in each plant. In short, synergy is where the sum is greater than the parts.
A good example of this is a commonly used plant Filipendula ulmaria or Meadowsweet.
Meadowsweet contains salicylic acid – the compound from which the drug Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) was formed. It is known that aspirin can cause gastric issues. However, meadowsweet contains tannins and mucilages which seem to counter the effects of the isolated salicytes. Interestingly, this herb is also used to treat gastric complaints such as heartburn and ulcers as it protects and soothes the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. The sum is greater than the parts.

Many people incorporate the healing power of plants into their life for simple, self-limiting complaints but what is the difference between a medical herbalist and someone who knows a lot about herbs? It is important that people can have an understanding of herbs and how they can be used within the household: for example, thyme for coughs or chamomile for calming the nerves and soothing the stomach. Herbal first aid is something that every household should know. However herbal medicine may have an advantage in treating more complex, long-standing and challenging conditions and that is where a medical herbalist has an important role.
As our approach to treatment is very different to mainstream medicine, the diagnosis is not always our central focus; what is more important is how the person came to develop the illness in the first place.
Typically we are members of The National Institute of Medical Herbalism, a professional body which requires members to hold a professional qualification in herbal medicine, to have studied orthodox medicine as well as plant medicine and to be trained in the same diagnostic skills as a GP. This means we are trained to identify the potential for serious undiagnosed conditions and refer on where necessary.

Our training ensures we have a good understanding of modern scientific research and clinical trials that support traditional use which enables us to prescribe effective medication to treat a range of conditions without the side effects experienced by conventional medicine. However, we are able to prescribe herbal remedies to be used alongside other medication and treatments as our training includes a thorough understanding of interactions and contraindications between herbs and conventional medication.  

Herbal medicine is a gentle yet powerful healing practice with a long-standing history of reliability. With extensive herbal knowledge and rigorous clinical training I hope to be able to support you on your journey to wellbeing. Whether you seek to address specific health concerns or to enhance your overall health, herbal medicine offers natural solutions that are both effective and tailored to your specific needs. Herbal medicine is holistic which means that we aim to treat the whole person, considering both the physical and emotional factors leading to a lack of balance or homeostasis within the body. Often treatment might begin with providing symptomatic relief, and then move on to tackling the underlying causes and conditions that can be perpetuating or exacerbating symptoms. This means that treatment can take time, especially with conditions that have taken years to develop.

Most conditions that lead someone to consult a medical herbalist are chronic, long-standing and have been unresponsive to conventional treatments. It is therefore crucial that the individual has a chance to tell the story of their condition in the context of their full medical and lifestyle history so we can build an accurate picture of the individual and their complaint. An initial consultation lasts between 60-90 minutes and involves an in-depth investigation of your current, recent and past medical history; alongside clinical examinations and other diagnostic procedures such as blood pressure readings, blood glucose and uric acid tests.

There may be instances where it would be appropriate to have a brief consultation with a short-term prescription provided for an acute condition; for example, an acute infection.

At the end of the consultation a herbal prescription will be formulated which may include teas, tinctures, capsules, juices, supplements or topical treatments. Changes in diet and lifestyle are also often recommended to enable the restoration of balance to the body. A follow-up appointment will be arranged for 3-4 weeks later to review progress. Consultations will be scheduled as appropriate to the patient’s future needs and prescriptions dispensed on a monthly basis. 

These take place in my consulting room in the outskirts of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Parking is available. While my preference is to meet patients face-to-face, at least for the initial consultation, I also offer flexible access to consultations, with a range of clinic hours to suit. I can also offer follow-up consultations either online or by telephone.

Full Initial Consultation
Adult £70.00
Child £40.00

Follow-up Consultation (up to 1 hour)
Adult £40.00
Child £25.00

Consultation for Acute Conditions (up to 30 mins)
Adults £20.00
Child £10.00

Herbal tinctures cost approximately £40-50 per month

New consultation bundle = £130 and includes:
1 initial consultation plus 1 follow-up appointment, and one month's herbal medicine (would be £155 if paid separately). 

Expertly blending medical science with the healing power of plants to support your health naturally.

CONTACT ME
[email protected]

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