The type of herbal medicine that Laurie uses come from a particular Chinese medicine tradition which relates back to one of the “classic” bodies of work. This tradition is focussed on how the body rations out its metabolic resources especially as it relates to immune function and blood flow. The system uses a very careful examination of the pulse to determine how to combine the flavours and the “nature” of the herb (density, where the herb tends to head to in the body and how the herb will alter fluid flow) to choose the strategy for treatment. Although often very quick and effective in terms of addressing symptoms which may be bothering you, the strength of this system is that It is linking up and co ordinating body functions, rather than just targeting one symptom. This makes it a very elegant system with far fewer “side” effects and a very clear and strategic approach. The ai of herbal medicine like this is always to get you to the point where you no longer need the herbs as you body systems have been “re connected’ or re- established proper coordination of function. In basing our formula prescription on the quality of the pulse we are trying to assess how the body is currently trying to keep the body functioning well, by organising the way it distributes immune response via the blood flow. The approach we use then allows us to work out at which “level’ this attempt to rebalance is getting stuck, probably how it got there, and the stages in coming out of the situation. We know what a healthy pulse feels like, the kind of healthy and responsive blood flow it represents, and that is what we are aiming to achieve. Each formula is tailored uniquely to you at the particular stage of response you are in when the consultation happens. This means that we do not have to think too much about clashes with medication etc because the pulse has given us an insight and a gauge as to how the body is working with the medication that you are taking. It does not matter so much how the body got stuck in the pattern it is in (medication or no) it still can be helped out of that situation. Although we can advise on many aspects of diet, exercise etc, we will never say to you that you should stop this or that medication, we will support whichever route you choose to take to deal with your health challenge and are not looking to add to your concerns by contradicting your consultants advice. Lets be honest Chinese herbs are not the most pleasant tasting drinks you have ever had and there is nothing we can do about that. Grin and bear it and take the herbs. You are drinking them for your health not your tastebuds. Many of us suspect that our tastebuds and the food we are eating are contributing to the health problems we are facing, and the tastes you get from targeted herbs are in part a remedy for this situation. Many of the formula are pleasant, the majority being based on cinnamon and ginger (very like the tea we serve in the clinic). Others….not so pleasant