Purple Sage Home Page

This website is provided as an information resource for those interested in medicinal herbs and their applications.

The Site Contents are listed below. If you intend to self-prescribe any medicinal herbs, then you should first read the safety statement.

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New for 2008!

Regular visitors to this website are invited to join the Purple Sage Community, an informal forum where you can share your thoughts and ideas with like-minded people and pose any tricky questions about herbal medicine. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in herbs, particularly students of natural medicine, healthcare workers, gardeners, botanists, and cooks. If you would like to join in with what I hope will be some lively discussion click here and follow the onscreen instructions. Your FREE membership will normally be confirmed within 24 hours.

Hopi Ear Candles now in stock.

Herbal Journal 2009

Back by popular demand, the 2009 edition of the Herbal Journal offers an all-new collection of wisdom about the healing properties of medicinal plants, gathered from experienced herbalists around the world. This compact, elegant weekly planner contains monographs, essays, recipes and traditional and historical information on healing herbs - all beautifully illustrated by full-colour botanical paintings and photographs. A handy resource section lists suppliers, professional organisations and further reading. Last year's Journal sold out extremely quickly, so order soon to avoid disappointment.

Still only £10.99

There are two new sections in the Purple Sage Shop. First of all, The Sage Deli has a mouth-watering array of award-winning goodies from Uncle Roy! Believe me, they are absolutely delicious. And the new Cookshop will be stocking those hard-to-find ingredients, starting off with Steenberg's wonderful Fairtrade Organic Vanilla Extract. Let me know what you would like to see here and I'll do my best to source it.

I may be visiting a health food store near you, so please come along for a chat. Click here for details.

Site Contents

News: This section is regularly updated to include items on current research in herbal medicine, interesting ways in which plants are used, events happening around the country, and lots more.

Herb Profiles: An expanding database of monographs on individual herbs and their medicinal uses. These can be located by either the Common or Botanical name and are accompanied by a glossary of medical terminology used in the text.

Treatments: This section deals with a selection of common ailments and possible herbal treatments.

Shop: Buy dried herbs, tinctures, herbal capsules, lotions & potions, books, gifts and much more. The Online Shopping Basket is available only to UK customers. Orders from overseas are welcome too, but you must email your order to me so that I can work out shipping costs to your country.

Books: A list of recommended reading on herb growing, identification, medicinal uses, folklore, etc. You may also buy these titles online. Or have a look at the herbal books Amazon is recommending this month by clicking here.

Recipes: Seasonal recipes and simple crafts using herbs and spices.

Links: Other sites which you may find of interest, including suppliers of herb seeds and plants, how to find your nearest medical herbalist, conservation organisations, holidays & activities, and lots more.

About me: My name is Christine Haughton and I am a Scottish medical herbalist living and working in North Yorkshire, England. I am a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy and the Royal Institute of Public Health. Having put together a series of herb monographs as part of my coursework during my studies at the College of Phytotherapy in East Sussex, I recently decided to expand these, to add even more herbs and to bring them to a wider audience via the WWW. I hope you will find them useful.

I may be visiting a health food store near you. Do come along for a chat about herbal medicine. Click here for details.

By the way, the name 'Purple Sage' was inspired by the 70's San Francisco band New Riders of the Purple Sage of 'Lonesome LA Cowboy' fame!

Consultations: My own practice is located in Yedingham - about 10 miles from Malton, North Yorkshire. If you would like to make an appointment, please call 01944 728441 between 9am and 5pm, Monday - Friday, or email woldfarm@aol.com . Please note that you should telephone ONLY if you wish to make an appointment - please use email for ALL other enquiries so as to keep disruption of my patient consultations to a minimum.

NB. I am unable to give specific medical advice to individuals over the internet so please don't waste your time by sending me detailed information about your health problems. If you would like to have a face to face consultation with a medical herbalist then click here to find someone in your area.

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For Your Safety:

The information and recommendations contained within this web site are not intended to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified practitioner. I cannot accept responsibility for any adverse effects which arise from self-medication. Any persistent condition should always be referred to a medical herbalist or doctor, and all medicines, including herbs, should be avoided during pregnancy unless prescribed by a doctor or herbalist. Never give herbs to babies and children without checking with a qualified professional first. Likewise, never take herbs in conjunction with other medication without first checking whether it is safe to do so.

Many individuals practice as herbalists in spite of having little or no training in medical or botanical sciences. Therefore, it is important to choose a qualified practitioner who is a member of a professional organisation with appropriate insurance. They should have completed a minimum of three years training, - you should never be afraid to ask for evidence of this. Just because herbs are 'natural', it does not mean that they are safe for everyone to use. Only a trained practitioner will be fully aware of potential adverse effects and herb-drug interactions, and will be able to recognise those circumstances in which herbs may not be the most appropriate treatment.

To find your nearest qualified medical herbalist, contact the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (NIMH) or the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy (CPP), whose members have all undergone a rigorous three to four-year training course and who adhere to a strict professional code of ethics. Contact details are listed below. Your local Yellow Pages may also list herbalists in your area.

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PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS

National Institute of Medical Herbalists