These are the questions people most often need answered before deciding whether Elder Roots is the right place to start. If your situation is not covered here, a brief enquiry is enough. You do not need to send your full medical history through the website contact form.

About the approach

What is medical herbalism?

Medical herbalism uses plant medicines as part of an individualised approach to health. At Elder Roots, that includes conventional medical information such as diagnoses, medicines and investigations, but it does not stop there. I also consider constitution, nutrition, sleep, movement, nervous-system regulation, personal history, relationships, work, stress, goals and the wider circumstances in which your health has changed. 

Herbal treatment is used where it is appropriate and safe, alongside practical advice and conventional healthcare where needed.

Is Elder Roots mainly a biomedical herbal practice?

No. Biomedical knowledge is an important part of safe practice, particularly for understanding pathology, medicines, investigations, red flags and herb-medicine interactions. But it is one lens rather than the whole assessment. Elder Roots is deliberately holistic and physiomedical in its outlook: I am interested in the person carrying the diagnosis, how different body systems are functioning and adapting, and how mind, nervous system, nutrition, history and present life may be interacting with physical health.

Why is the first consultation so long?

A standard adult initial consultation commonly lasts around two and a half hours, and sometimes longer. That time allows us to go much deeper than a symptom-and-medication review. We can explore when things changed, what was happening around that time, what patterns have repeated, what has been lost or gained, what your body and nervous system have had to adapt to, and what you are actually hoping to regain.

The appointment itself is only part of the professional work: a new-patient case commonly involves a further 2–3 hours of review, formulation and treatment planning outside the appointment, while medically complex cases may require around 3–5 additional hours. These are typical working ranges rather than fixed time entitlements.

Can herbal medicine guarantee a result?

No. Herbal treatment is individualised and response is reviewed over time, but no ethical practitioner can promise a cure or a particular outcome. My job is to make the assessment as thoughtful and useful as possible, explain the reasoning, work safely and adjust the plan according to how you actually respond.

Safety and conventional healthcare

Do I need to stop my prescribed medication?

No. You should not stop or alter prescribed medication unless the clinician responsible for prescribing it advises you to do so. Medication review and possible herb-medicine interactions form part of the Elder Roots assessment. Herbal care is intended to work alongside appropriate conventional healthcare, not replace it.

Is herbal medicine safe with prescription medicines?

Sometimes, but not automatically. Herbs can interact with medicines and some combinations are unsuitable. I review prescribed medicines, over-the-counter medicines and supplements as part of the consultation and may decide that a particular herb, supplement or treatment is not appropriate. If your medication or medical treatment changes, please tell me because the herbal plan may need reviewing.

What happens if you think I need medical investigation instead?

I will tell you clearly. If your symptoms, history or test results suggest that GP, specialist, emergency or other conventional assessment is needed before or alongside herbal treatment, I will recommend that. Elder Roots does not provide emergency or out-of-hours medical care.

Are Zoom consultations recorded?

No. Elder Roots does not record Zoom consultations. Clinical notes are made separately and handled under the practice privacy and records-management arrangements.

Before and during your consultation

What happens after I enquire?

I will first consider whether the practice appears suitable for what you are asking for and whether a standard, complex or child consultation is the right starting point. If we proceed, you will receive the relevant booking information, fees, Patient Terms and Privacy Notice, together with the forms needed before the appointment. Initial enquiries are acknowledged within two working days where possible.

What should I prepare before the consultation?

Please complete the pre-visit information requested and provide an up-to-date list of prescribed medicines, over-the-counter medicines, supplements and existing herbal products. Relevant test results, clinic letters or hospital correspondence can also be useful where they genuinely relate to the problem we are exploring. You do not need to assemble your entire lifetime medical archive unless it is relevant.

What happens during the consultation?

We work through the health concerns that brought you to me, your medical history, medicines, investigations and safety, and then the wider context that may be clinically important: chronology, nutrition, sleep, activity, stress and autonomic patterns, relationships, roles, significant life events, goals and what has changed over time. The purpose is to build a coherent picture rather than simply collect a longer list of symptoms.

What happens after the consultation?

I review and synthesise the information, complete the clinical record, research, consider safety and interactions, formulate the treatment strategy and prepare the herbal prescription where appropriate. Herbal medicines and practical recommendations are then provided or arranged, with follow-up based on the needs of the case. This post-consultation work is part of the service covered by the consultation fee.

Children, complex cases and cancer support

Do you see children?

Yes. Child consultation fees apply to patients under 18. Herbal care for children is individualised and follows the relevant consent, competence, safeguarding and safety requirements. Young people who are able to understand and make a particular healthcare decision are involved appropriately in their own care.

What if an adult needs extra support during a consultation?

Adults with developmental disabilities, learning disabilities or cognitive concerns remain adult patients. Reasonable adjustments and appropriate support can be arranged, and a supporter may be involved where the patient agrees or where another lawful decision-making arrangement applies. Support does not automatically give somebody access to the patient's full clinical information.

Can you help with medically complex conditions?

Yes. Complex Integrative Herbal Support is intended for situations involving several diagnoses, polypharmacy, significant medical treatment, complicated investigations or other circumstances requiring more extensive review and safety checking. Complex provision is agreed before proceeding at the complex rate wherever possible.

Do you work with people living with cancer?

Yes, as complex complementary support. Cancer support, including care during treatment and recovery afterwards, requires particularly careful review of oncology treatment, prescribed medicines, supplements, diet, herbs and potential interactions. Elder Roots does not replace oncology care, cancer investigation or prescribed treatment, and I may recommend liaison or further medical assessment before proceeding.

Medicines and costs

What herbal medicines do you prescribe?

At launch, Elder Roots prescribes individually formulated liquid tinctures and dried herbal teas. Capsules and powders are not part of the current dispensing model, due to the dubious nature of said method and the science of absorption. The prescription is selected for the individual rather than taken from a fixed disease protocol.

How much do herbal medicines usually cost?

Liquid tincture is £12 per 100 ml. A usual adult monthly prescription is approximately 420 ml, but I charge this as four 100 ml units, so the additional 20 ml is supplied without charge. The typical tincture cost is therefore £48 per month.

Dried herbal tea is £7.50 per 50 g or £15 per 100 g. Around 30% of adult patients may also receive about 100 g of tea, making a typical combined monthly medicine cost around £63. Actual prescriptions vary.

Is postage included?

Standard UK postage is included for the first prescription following a paid consultation. Repeat standard postage is £6. Heavy, bulky, urgent, tracked or special delivery is charged at cost or by agreement. Local collection is free.

Can I get repeat prescriptions without another full consultation?

Often, yes, if you are stable and nothing has changed that requires clinical review. Straight repeats have no administration fee and may usually continue for up to four months without a full consultation. A review may be needed sooner after a new medicine, pregnancy, new diagnosis, abnormal result, hospital admission, significant deterioration, possible adverse reaction or another safety concern.

What if my prescription needs changing between consultations?

A small adjustment may be handled as a charged prescription adjustment or short clinical contact. A larger change, new symptoms, medication changes, hospital letters, blood results or a significant flare may require a written mini-consult or return consultation. I will tell you which level of review is needed before doing chargeable work where possible.

Care pathways and concessions

What is a six-month care pathway?

The standard adult care pathway is designed for longer-term concerns where one consultation is unlikely to be enough. It includes one initial consultation, four full follow-up consultations and four brief scheduled online check-ins over a 24-week clinical rhythm. Medicines are charged separately.

Current care pathways include Fibromyalgia & Persistent Pain, Thyroid & Metabolic Health, and Nervous System & Burnout; however, if you feel this method of pathway would suit you, please ask.

How much is the six-month pathway?

The standard pathway is £520 when paid upfront, or £90 per month for six months (£540 total).

The concession pathway is £360 upfront or £60 per month for six months (£360 total).

Complex and cancer-support care is structured individually where appropriate rather than placed into the standard pathway. Children's consultations remain pay-as-you-go at launch.

Do you offer concession fees?

Yes. Concession rates are available for people on low incomes, students, people receiving means-tested benefits and people experiencing significant financial hardship, subject to available clinical capacity. There is no fixed numerical quota. I prefer this to be discussed with dignity rather than turned into an obstacle course of paperwork. Proportionate evidence may occasionally be requested where eligibility is genuinely unclear.

Where consultations happen

Do you have a clinic I can visit?

Elder Roots does not operate a permanent patient clinic. UK consultations are offered primarily by Zoom. Patients do not routinely attend the home administration and dispensary base.

Do you offer home visits?

Yes, local home visits may be available by prior agreement where they are appropriate and practical. The travel supplement is £30 for a local home visit or £50 for an extended home visit. The travel supplement is not reduced under the concession scheme. An assessed temporary or hired venue may occasionally be used by prior arrangement.

Cancellations, refunds and communication

What if I need to cancel or rearrange an appointment?

With more than 48 hours' notice there is normally no charge and the appointment can be rearranged. With 24–48 hours' notice, 50% of the fee may apply. With less than 24 hours' notice, the full fee may apply. Genuine emergencies are treated with discretion, as I am not a monster. The full cancellation terms are set out in the Patient Terms, Conditions and Practice Policies.

What happens if I miss an appointment?

A missed appointment or non-attendance without notice may be charged at the full appointment fee. Where there is a genuine and reasonable explanation, discretion may be used in line with the practice terms.

Can consultation fees be refunded?

Consultation fees are generally non-refundable once the consultation has taken place. Care pathways have their own withdrawal and recalculation terms. If you leave a pathway early, work already provided is recalculated at ordinary pay-as-you-go prices and any remaining balance is handled under the pathway agreement.

What if herbal medicines arrive damaged?

Please contact the practice within 48 hours and provide photographs of the package and contents. Where damage occurred in transit, replacement medicines will normally be provided without charge. Because prescriptions are individually prepared healthcare products, medicines that have been successfully delivered cannot normally be returned or refunded.

How quickly will you reply to me?

Initial enquiries are acknowledged within two working days where possible. Scheduled care-pathway check-ins are normally answered within three working days. More complex clinical questions may take longer because they require records review or clinical work rather than a quick administrative reply. Elder Roots is not an emergency or out-of-hours service.

Can I send a clinical question by social media?

Please do not use social-media messages for clinical or emergency information. Email is the appropriate route for clinical correspondence, and substantive clinical questions may require a charged review rather than a free answer by message.

Still not sure?

You do not need to decide whether your situation is standard, complex or suitable for a care pathway before contacting me. Send a brief outline of what you would like help with and I will advise on the most appropriate next step.