Welcome to Urban Herbalist, website of Natalia Kerkham, medical herbalist. I practice at Cheshire Natural Health, in Stretton, south Warrington, and at the Preston Herbal Clinic.
I qualified as a herbalist in 2003, with a degree in herbal medicine, and am a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. I have been in practice since 2004, and now also teach students on the herbal medicine degree at the University of Central Lancashire.
Herbal medicine is a good alternative to conventional medicine because it works. Many people swear by herbal remedies they buy over the counter, such as Echinacea to ward off infections. As a professional herbalist, I use hundreds of different herbs to treat the full range of medical conditions.
Would you describe medicines such as Prozac, or even aspirin as ‘good for you’? Herbs relieve pain and other symptoms just like conventional drugs, but at the same time build health by strengthening vital functions such as digestion, circulation and sleep.
The other wonderful thing about herbal medicine is you don’t have to put up with unwanted side effects. Very few herbs are toxic (see Are Herbs Dangerous?), and those few work at doses too low to produce side effects.
Herbal medicine can treat most conditions, and is particularly good for:
- Arthritis
- High blood pressure
- Menopausal symptoms as a natural alternative to HRT
- Heavy or painful periods
- PCOS
- Migraine
- IBS
- Diabetes - supportive treatment to keep circulation and nervous systems healthy