If it’s apples you require, go to a green grocers. If it’s bread, head to a bakery. If it’s medication you want, see your doctor. If it’s plant based medicine you prefer, go to a naturopath or herbalist.
A common conversation I have with new clients is they went to the doctor and were given a prescription but that they prefer not to take it. Can I mix them a natural remedy instead?
In some countries naturopaths are called naturopathic physicians which is helpful because the title clearly indicates the natural doctor service that we perform. We prescribe natural remedies according to your signs and symptoms or condition, all of which we are trained to assess and identify. Therefore in many health instances it’s perfectly fine to cut to the chase and see us in the first instance if you identify more strongly with herbal medicine. We’ll be able to determine if you need medical care too. Sometimes nature can only go so far.
Try not to feel let down by your doctor when they prescribe a drug you don’t want. They are just doing their job. Licensing laws are very important to keep we health professionals in our correct lane. Legally, herbal medicine is beyond the scope of GPs, just as naturopaths are not licensed to prescribe pharmaceuticals. The lanes are designed to run parallel to one another, co-existing as the masculine (drugs) and feminine (plants) but to not intrude on one another. This separate lane business makes health choice nice and clear, so it’s a good thing. Trust your instincts to know which lane you need to consult with and when.
Manuka, Leptospermum scoparium. A healing giant of Aotearoa, New Zealand. It’s actions include antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-spasmodic, sedative, astringent and diaphoretic. Therefore Manuka is often considered for those suffering the likes of a fever, cold, influenza or sore throat. Also IBS, diarrhoea, thrush, mouth ulcers and acne. I often give Manuka to clients under stress as it supports the body so broadly and beautifully. 
