Frequently Asked Questions

These are some questions I get asked about my practice and about herbalism in general, and my answers to them. If you have other questions, feel free to email or call me.

--Andrew Bentley

What does a clinical herbalist do?

An herbalist uses and recommends herbal medicines to help improve the health of patients. Rather than focusing on what disease a person may or may not have, we think in terms of which structures and functions in the body need to function differently. So, for instance, a person who frequently contracts illnesses might have an immune system that needs to be supported. There are herbs available to influence every structure and function in the human body. 

How do you determine which herbs to use?

Because every human being is different, there is no one best herb for any given situation. The process of clinical assessment that is used in this practice consists of taking a thorough health history, observing relevant signs and symptoms, and asking lots of questions about what the patient is experiencing. This allows the herbalist to make an informed decision about which herbs to recommend.

Is there any evidence that herbal medicines really work?

For almost all herbs, there is a very long history of use (sometimes going back thousands of years). History of use is the most thorough form of evidence for safety and efficacy, because real-world experience often brings things to light that controlled studies do not (think of all the drugs that have been approved for sale, then taken off the market in recent years). Additionally, many of the more commonly used herbs have been subjects of several clinical trials. So, for many herbal medicines, there is more reliable scientific evidence for their safety and effectiveness, than there is for comparable conventional drugs. 

Can someone take herbs if they're already taking prescription drugs?

Yes, but they have to be careful about this. This is definitely an area where professional guidance is helpful, because herbs and drugs can counteract each other, add to each other's effects, or combine to produce completely different results. A knowledgeable herbalist is familiar with the pharmacodynamics of herbs, that is, how they work in the body and how they might interact with other substances. Over the past decade, I've become one of the people that other professionals in the herbal and medical fields turn to for this sort of information, and my writings on the subject can be found in healthcare professionals' offices all over the world.

How does someone become an herbalist? What is your background?

Usually either by going to an herbal trade school, or by apprenticeship under another herbalist. I took the second route, it being by far the more common one at the time (since then herbal schools have become common). My "roots" in healing come form a family tradition that I learned growing up. Later, I travelled the world and learned from different tribal and traditional healers all around the globe. Different plants grow in every different climate, and the people who live in all of these places have relied on their local plants for healing since time out of mind. As a result, I'm familiar not only with north american and Western European herbs, but with herbs from many other places as well.

Does insurance pay for your services?

Unfortunately, at this time, I am not aware of any insurance companies that pay for this kind of service. I hope and expect that this will change in the years to come-- after all, it would save them a lot of money. Some health savings accounts and flexible spending plans do cover our services.

What happens during an office visit?

The patient comes into my office and we talk about their health and any conditions they are experiencing. I ask questions to try and figure out what can be changed in the person's body to improve their health. Usually, I will take their pulse and look at their tongue to see if these show any particular signs of how the organs and systems in the body are functioning. I can also look for any other signs or symptoms that may be present, depending on the condition. Once an assessment of the patient's condition has been made, I will usually dispense them some herbal extracts to take over a period of time, and recommend that they follow up at some specified future date (if appropriate to the situation). There are a lot of possible variations to this scenario, but that's the general course of things.

How much does it cost?

An initial office visit is $50. Follow-up visits are $35. Herbs are in addition to this. So the total for a first visit, with herbs, often runs around $100-$125, depending on how much herbal intervention is necessary. Even though this is already inexpensive compared to other forms of primary health care, I have never been in the practice of turning away people who can't pay, and will work something out with anyone who wants to come in. Just contact me and let me know.