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i am a herbalist

about medical herbalist alan hopking MA MNIMH MRCHM FINEH

AlanMA-graduate

Alan Neville Hopking MA (b. 1950) after four years training graduated from the School of Herbal Medicine (England, UK) as a herbal practitioner in 1981 and in the following Spring at the April NIMH Annual Conference (1982) he took the Oath of the Institute and was accepted into membership with the oldest professional body of practising herbalists in the world, the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK). He now carries the letters of his qualification and membership MNIMH. This guarantees that he is fully insured and adheres to a strict professional Code of Ethics. These letters are a guarantee that patients place themselves in safe, trained and caring hands.
Then in 1991 after two years of post-graduate training, Alan qualified from the London School of Chinese Herbal Medicine, and was elected to Membership of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (UK), with the letters MRCHM. His grandfather George Moynihan, who lived in China for years, was the first European to send Chinese Liquorice Root to USA!
In 1985 after two years training Alan was elected as Member of the INEH. And following 20 years of practice and international teaching of health and healing, he was awarded a Fellowship of the organisation in 2005, FINEH. Alan is an author of four books about health and healing; the most recent book was published in USA in 2005. To view his latest book, click here.
Alan has been in continuous practice as a professional herbal practitioner since 1981. He had multi-practice clinics in London, Southampton, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. He has been at his own dedicated and busy practice in Christchurch since 1993. He has patients from as far away as Peru, India, USA and Australia, but of course most of his patients are in Great Britain and the EU.
Alan is married and has two sons.

25 Years as a Herbal Practitioner

More and more people are turning to herbal medicine as the first alternative to mainstream medicine with its pharmaceutical products and frequent side effects. After 25 years of clinical experience I know that patients want safe effective treatment. And when treatment is wanted no-one wants to wait for an appointment. A patient needs to be patient when being treated. But treatment needs to be started as soon as possible to begin the healing process. This is why we at Godshaer regard seeing new patients as soon as possible and the delivery of your medicine a priority. We can guarantee next day delivery.
To receive our botanical medicines, made without compromise, using the most effective herbs for treating specific health conditions consult me concerning your needs, symptoms, any medication you're on, and any other relevant medical data. Simply email me to discuss your needs. I normally reply the same day.

If you have a loved one who needs help, consider herbal medicine; it could make a vital difference to the regaining of their health.

A statement by Alan Hopking MA MNIMH MRCHM FINEH

"I have always been interested in health and healing. When I was a boy I couldn't understand why people got ill and died. I believed there was within us the capacity for indefinite health and life. Seeing disease and suffering, pain and death for myself made me aspire to the ultimate health giving life source: Plants. I saw plants as embodying a life we had lost. Trees and herbs with long life we call "perennials". I saw all plants as having a beauty and purity which we only expressed in our youth. That flowers and their fragrances whether of roses or asafoetida manifested a uniqueness that still radiated strength and aliveness, made me wonder. My love of plants arises from a profound respect for them. They have been subject to the same conditions of trial and test over the millions of years of evolution as humans. Yet they retain their high standards, maintained their humility and sanctity, and easily excel both ourselves and the animal kingdom in variety, abundance, adaptability and beauty. Over the hundreds of thousands of years we have come to understand the outstanding qualities of plants, not just as food but also as medicines.

The disciple goes to the master

"The disciple goes to the master, the patient to the doctor, the student to the teacher - the lesser to the greater. This is the truth behind the supreme distinction of plants over man and beast. We are totally dependent on them; but they not on us. We have bowed down to them for as long as we have co-existed. Through this obeisance our medical forefathers gained a knowledge as to which plants were to be used for different human illnesses. This obsession continues today as we tirelessly search for the plant saviour to end the scourge of the catalogue of humiliating horrors which afflict us. New drugs from trees, vines and herbs from the remotest parts of the uncivilised world keep cropping up. New drugs from bushes on our doorstep. We can stand agog at the findings of science. But we should not be surprised. We are the little children who need to learn from our Great Mother how to live and thrive and sing and spread joy. But in our arrogance we think we know better. For these reasons I decided to become a herbal practitioner.

I love humanity

"I love humanity. We have such potential, such ambition, such hope, faith and purpose. We are so young; so arrogantly 'stupid'! Being the "first-born" with mind we have hardly recognised that we are part of the indigenous species on the planet. Until we do, all our potential and purpose is doomed. Until we do, we will depend on plants and botanicals. When we do, this medical dependency will cease. These are serious thoughts, deep thoughts, perhaps.

I love plants

"I cut the leaves of plants. I dig up their roots. I split off barks. I collect flowers, berries, seeds, nuts and resin. I squeeze stems and rhizomes for juice. I steep, boil, macerate and distil the plants I gather. They let me. They want me to do this. They call me to themselves. From them I make extracts, tinctures, waters, tonics, lotions, douches, liniments, poultices, snuffs, creams, ointments, oils, etc. for the healing of disease. 'Thank you plant beings. Thank you Green Man.' With all these I only use pure spring water. I draw this myself from the source, as it gushes from the earth womb. I believe in natura naturans, the universal being of nature, as the source, with infinite potentiality, forever creative, begetting itself, transforming, adapting to the interacting conditions of itself. I also believe in natura naturata, that nature is the infinity of worlds and objects and events into which the whole divides itself and in which nature displays the potentialities latent within it. We are part of nature and totally dependant on it for our health and happiness.
"People have consulted me with virtually every possible complaint in the book. Each is prescribed the appropriate plant or combination of plants, in the appropriate form for their use. If they follow the advice given (in three levels of application according to the severity of the resistance) they usually get better.
"For more about the purpose of disease see my book on health and healing (published 2005); for finding out which plants for what illness, the clinic at which I am based, and much more see the site map.
"I studied for four years at the full-time School of Herbal Medicine, and then two years at the postgaduate School of Chinese Herbal Medicine in London. I have taught herbalism and healing in many countries.
"Herbalism, herbal medicine, botanical therapy, phytotherapy - to it I am dedicated.
Natura naturans.
Natura naturata. "

Alan&Kings in oak tree

Alan and his son Kingsley. Winter 2005.

Giovani Maciocia, one of my tutors many years ago, recently made this very insightful comparison between acupuncturists and herbalists to which I concur:
"Essentially the qualities of the acupuncturist and the herbalist are different... herbal doctors are always very quiet, meditative, reflective and think very deeply, whereas acupuncturists are more extrovert... When you diagnose to prescribe herbs you are all in your mind, thinking about the herbs." (Acupuncture Review, 2001)

Alan Hopking MA MNIMH MRCHM says, regarding his work as a medical herbalist and his web-site Godshaer Herbalist, 'Following UK and EU law, I assure every patient and prospective patient that no medical claims are made or intended regarding my work as a herbal practitioner. Further, no claims or guarantees are made or intended concerning any of the medicinal herbs I prescribe for any medical condition treated. However, following the consultation processl, I pledge I shall do all I can, drawing upon my knowledge of herbal medicine and natural treatment, to help you regain your health.'

The Big Sqeeze
The medical herbalist does not have the right to advertise using any form of advertising method or public display any herbal product for sale he or she makes unless such a product has a registered license to prove that in clinical use and under double blind conditions such a herb or herbal combination can do exactly what it is claimed that it can do in the human orrganism.
Now, if a snooker ball is hit against another there is a predictable outcome, but if a snooker ball is hit into a pack of balls the predictability of the directions and interactions of the balls is very difficult; and if we had say ten white snooker balls hit simultaneously into a pack of fifty red balls the predictability of the directions and interactions of the balls is virtually impossible.
In prescriptions medical herbalists don't use one single herb let alone one single constituent (as in pharmaceutical drugs); what's more, each human who is displaying symptoms of illness has a unique set of symptoms different from any other patient and so the same clinical outcome can never be predicted; herbs are drugs but have a much wider, safer use than industrialized chemical drugs, this is due to herbs being organic, like potatoes eggs and beans, with a wide range of organic constituents that uniquely fit together and which the body can recognize and respond to, to overcome illness. Not so with industrialized drugs: these are concentrated chemical compounds created to cause maximum reaction for quick results. Hence the sad sufferance of side effects in all patients, and iatrogenesis.
... nor may a medical herbalist state in any form of advertising method or public display that any plant has any medicinal value for human or animal use (medical herbalists are not legally permitted to treat animals with medicinal herbs; this may only be done by medical herbalists who are trained as veterinary surgeons).
... the medical herbalist may not state that with the use of medicinal herbs he or she can in any way ease the suffering of any patient's illness.
... a medical herbalist may not prescribe a herbal medicine consisting of one or more medicinal herbs without having a face to face consultation with the patient;
a video call (for example on a 3G mobile phone) between a medical herbalist and a patient is not considered a consultation and a herbal medicine may not be prescribed;
a telephone call between a medical herbalist and a patient is not constituted a consultation and a herbal medicine may not be prescribed;
an email conversation between a medical herbalist and a patient is not constituted a consultation and a herbal medicine may not be prescribed;
letters exchanged between a patient and a medical herbalist is not constituted a consultation and a herbal medicine may not be prescribed;
and since we are not allowed to advertise ourselves or the herbs we use or any combination of hebs as products as having any medicinal action on the human body...
Alan Hopking
2007

Iatrogenesis
The medical establishment has become a major threat to health. The disabling impact of professional control over medicine has reached the proportions of an epidemic. Iatrogenesis, the name for this new epidemic, comes from iatros, the Greek word for 'physician', and 'genesis', meaning 'origin'... Until recently medicine attempted to enhance what occurs in nature. It fostered the tendency of wounds to heal... Now... therapies induce the organism to interact with molecues or with machines in ways for which there is no precedent in evolution... The pioneers of yesterday's so-called breakthroughs warn their patients against the dangers of the miracle cures they have only just invented... [And] the medical monopoly over health care has expanded without checks and has encroached on our liberty with regard to our own bodies...
Limits to Medicine by Ivan Illych

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Our herbal tonic medicines are carefully prepared on a personal and individual basis for your healing by medical herbalist Alan Hopking MA MNIMH MRCHM FINEH. Only whole herbs are used in our herbal medicines. Nothing else is added. If you have symptoms which you consider might be helped with herbal medicine please contact herbal practitioner Alan Hopking for a friendly confidential professional consultation. Telphone using our freephone 0500 90 96 97.
Once you have received your herbal prescription you can contact Alan Hopking at any time for more free advice (preferably by email). When you have completed your bottle of herbal medicine and if you want a repeat prescription you are requested to phone or email so that your progress can be assessed and adjustments made if necessary so that there is no break in your treatment. To order or re-order, click here.

UK Government Dept - MHRA

General advice to consumers on the use of herbal remedies from the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

From the website of the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (www.mhra.gov.uk) Department of Health, UK

• Remember that herbal remedies are medicines. As with any other medicine they are likely to have an effect on the body and should be used with care.
• Herbal remedies may sometimes interact with other medicines. This makes it particularly important to tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking a herbal remedy with other medicines such as prescribed medicines (those provided through your doctor or dentist).
• Treat with caution any suggestion that a herbal remedy is '100% safe' or is 'safe because it is natural'. Many plants, trees, fungi and algae can be poisonous to humans. It is worth remembering that many pharmaceuticals have been developed or derived from these sources because of the powerful compounds they contain. Any medicine, including herbal remedies, which have an effect on the body should be used with care.
• Treat with caution any herbalist or other person who supplies herbal remedies if they are unwilling or unable to provide written information, in English, listing the ingredients of the herbal remedy they are providing.
• If you are due to have a surgical operation you should always remember to tell your doctor about any herbal remedy that you are taking.
• Anyone who has previously experienced any liver complaint, or any other serious health complaint is advised not to take any herbal remedy without speaking to their doctor first.

PRECAUTIONS:

Pregnant/Breast-feeding mothers
Few conventional medicines have been established as safe to take during pregnancy and it is generally recognised that no medicine should be taken unless the benefit to the mother outweighs any possible risk to the foetus. This rule should also be applied to herbal medicinal products. However, herbal products are often promoted to the public as being “natural” and completely “safe” alternatives to conventional medicines. Some herbal ingredients that specifically should be avoided or used with caution during pregnancy. As with conventional medicines, no herbal products should be taken during pregnancy unless the benefit outweighs the potential risk.

Volatile Oils

Many herbs are traditionally reputed to be abortifacient and for some this reputation can be attributed to their volatile oil component.(6) A number of volatile oils are irritant to the genito-urinary tract if ingested and may induce uterine contractions. Herbs that contain irritant volatile oils include ground ivy, juniper, parsley, pennyroyal, sage, tansy and yarrow. Some of these oils contain the terpenoid constituent, thujone, which is known to be abortifacient. Pennyroyal oil also contains the hepatotoxic terpenoid constituent, pulegone. A case of liver failure in a woman who ingested pennyroyal oil as an abortifacient has been documented.

Uteroactivity

A stimulant or spasmolytic action on uterine muscle has been documented for some herbal ingredients including blue cohosh, burdock, fenugreek, golden seal, hawthorn, jamaica dogwood, motherwort, nettle, raspberry, and vervain. Herbal Teas Increased awareness of the harmful effects associated with excessive tea and coffee consumption has prompted many individuals to switch to herbal teas. Whilst some herbal teas may offer pleasant alternatives to tea and coffee, some contain pharmacologically active herbal ingredients, which may have unpredictable effects depending on the quantity of tea consumed and strength of the brew. Some herbal teas contain laxative herbal ingredients such as senna, frangula, and cascara. In general stimulant laxative preparations are not recommended during pregnancy and the use of unstandardised laxative preparations is particularly unsuitable. A case of hepatotoxicity in a newborn baby has been documented in which the mother consumed a herbal tea during pregnancy as an expectorant. Following analysis the herbal tea was reported to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are known to be hepatotoxic.

Breast-feeding mothers

A drug substance taken by a breast-feeding mother presents a hazard if it is transferred to the breast milk in pharmacologically or toxicologically significant amounts. Limited information is available regarding the safety of conventional medicines taken during breast-feeding. Much less information exists for herbal ingredients, and generally the use of herbal remedies is not recommended during lactation.

Paediatric Use

Herbal remedies have traditionally been used to treat both adults and children. Herbal remedies may offer a milder alternative to some conventional medicines, although the suitability of a herbal remedy needs to be considered with respect to quality, safety and efficacy. Herbal remedies should be used with caution in children and medical advice should be sought if in doubt. Chamomile is a popular remedy used to treat teething pains in babies. However, chamomile is known to contain allergenic sesquiterpene lactones and should therefore be used with caution. The administration of herbal teas to children needs to be considered carefully and professional advice may be needed.

Perioperative use

The need for patients to discontinue herbal medicinal products prior to surgery has recently been proposed. The authors considered eight commonly used herbal medicinal products (echinacea, ephedra, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, kava, St John’s Wort, valerian). On the evidence available they concluded that the potential existed for direct pharmacological effects, pharmacodynamic interactions and pharmacokinetic interactions. The need for physicians to have a clear understanding of the herbal medicinal products being used by patients and to take a detailed history was highlighted. The American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) has advised patients to tell their doctor if they are taking herbal products before surgery and has reported that a number of anaesthesiologists have reported significant changes in heart rate or blood pressure in some patients who have been taking herbal medicinal products including St John’s Wort, ginkgo and ginseng. MCA is currently investigating a serious adverse reaction associated with the use of ginkgo prior to surgery. In this case, the patient who was undergoing hip replacement experienced uncontrolled bleeding thought to be related to the use of ginkgo.

From the website of the Medicines Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (www.mhra.gov.uk) Department of Health, UK

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Godshaer Herbal Clinic
Advanced Botanical Centre of Medicine
Ducking Stool Lane
Christchurch
Dorset
BH23 1DS
UK

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+44 (0) 1202 488122
Freephone UK 0500 90 96 97

alanhopking@godshaer.co.uk

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alanhopking

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Disclaimer and pledge

As a professional herbal practitioner I am in practice in conformity with the laws of England and the 1968 Medicines Act. The UK legislative provisions for herbal medicine are to be found in the Medicines Act 1968, Section 12, paragraphs 1 & 2, and Section 56, paragraphs 1 & 2.

Section 12:1 specifies exemption for herbal medicines from licensing provided that they are supplied subsequent to private personal consultation. Section 12:2 exempts herbal medicines provided that they are produced according to standard traditional, non-industrial methods. It also specifies that no written claims may be made for the use of the remedy.

Therefore at Godshaer Herbalist no claims about any medical condition regarding the herbal medicines prescribed by Alan Hopking are made. Indeed, be it a doctor, surgeon or herbal practitioner, the successful outcome of our treatments cannot with any certainty be predicted, let alone guaranteed. Further, following UK and EU law, the information on this web site attach no medical claims and no claims concerning the medicinal herbs mentioned relating to any medical conditions listed. All the herbal prescriptions are unlicensed and made by Alan N. Hopking at the address of Godshaer Herbalist for patients of Alan N. Hopking.

I pledge that, I shall do all I can, using my knowledge of herbal medicines and natural treatment, to help you regain your deserved health.
Alan Hopking MA MNIMH MRCHM FINEH

All our herbal medicines are made from the raw herb at our dedicated clinic and dispensary in Ducking Stool Lane. We collect the fresh herbs, or import the dry herb. They are organic if at all possible. We only use whole herbs. We are against the use of standardized extracts, or the concentration of herbs by adding more of the active constituent. We recommend you do not use such products in any form (dry, in capsules or as tincture extracts). To use our herbal tonics you should follow the prescribed dose. Any side effects or problems should be reported to us.