Phil Rasmussen
M.Pharm (Otago), Dip. Herb. Med., M.N.I.M.H.(U.K.), M.P.S., F.N.Z.A.M.H., M.N.H.A.A.
Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy)
Plant-based medicines are the oldest used form of medicine. Our ancestors, by trial and error, found the most effective local plants to heal their illnesses. Over time, some of these became highly sought after and traded herbs and spices due to their powerful actions as medicines. The benefits of herbal medicine are now being increasingly researched and proven by scientists around the world, and traditional as well as new potential uses are being confirmed and revealed every day.
Unlike single chemical-containing drug medicines, herbal medicines contain numerous active natural chemicals (phytochemicals) which contribute to their therapeutic effects. This accounts for some of their advantages over drugs, but also presents challenges in ensuring product quality and optimal dosage.
What can herbal medicine treat
People of all ages can find benefit from plant (phyto) medicine, which can help to treat or protect against almost any health condition. This includes both mild and serious illnesses, including where drug medication is already being taken. Many conditions respond quickly to effective herbal treatment, while those that have had a longer duration (chronic conditions), tend to take longer to improve following appropriate treatment.
Virtually any health condition that patients might see a doctor for, can benefit from an individualised herbal treatment plan. Here are just some that often respond well to individualised herbal therapy, carefully selected and taken in the right dosage:
• fatigue including post-viral fatigue
• immune system conditions
• stress, anxiety and a low mood
• sleeping difficulties* digestive system complaints
• fertility or conception difficulties* hormonal conditions
* joint problems
• cardiovascular conditions
Selected and used appropriately, plants are powerful medicines capable of addressing the perceived causes of illness and supporting the maintenance, restoration or management of health. They can also work really well, alongside drug-based medicines.
Just as it is advisable to consult a medical specialist when experiencing many chronic or serious health concerns, seeing a professional medical herbalist can greatly enhance the ability to find an effective and safe herbal treatment.
About Phil
Phil has practiced as a medical herbalist (phytotherapist) in Auckland for 28 years, after studying Herbal Medicine (Phytotherapy) in the U.K. Prior to this he worked for more than 10 years as a hospital, community and drug information pharmacist in New Zealand and the UK, and undertook research on antidepressant drugs to obtain a Masters degree in Pharmacology (the science of the actions and uses of medicines).
Phil grew up in a small and predominantly Māori community in the East Coast region of New Zealand’s north island, where more traditional ways of living were the norm. He learnt about growing plants and developed a sense of awe for the bush and our native plants at an early age.
Phil is the founder and former research and development director of Phytomed Medicinal Herbs Ltd, an Auckland company which manufactures herbal extracts for practitioners in New Zealand and Australia, and the Kiwiherb range of herbal products.
Throughout his career, Phil has written and presented extensively on a wide range of herbal subjects for practitioner, consumer and industry audiences. He is an advocate for the statutory regulation of medical herbalists, and the establishment of a robust herbal medicine manufacturing industry that incorporates both native and other plants grown in Aotearoa New Zealand. He is a founding director of the New Zealand national industry body Natural Health Products New Zealand, and is a former President of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (NZAMH).