Your First Herbal Consultation: A Gentle, Honest Guide
If you’ve only experienced quick 10–15 minute appointments, the idea of a herbal medicine consultation can feel mysterious. Do you need to know all the herbs ahead of time? Will you be handed a stack of tincture bottles and sent on your way? Is this supposed to replace your doctor?
I’m a herbalist based in Ontario, Canada, and this is exactly what you can expect from working with me through Ravenstar Herbals, whether we meet online or in person. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how I structure herbal consultations, what happens before, during, and after a session, and how to tell if this kind of support is right for you in 2026.
What is an herbal consultation?
A herbal medicine consultation is a focused, collaborative conversation about your health history, current concerns, and priorities. Instead of chasing one symptom at a time, we look for patterns in your body and your life over time.
A few important clarifications up front:
A herbalist does not replace your primary care provider.
I do not diagnose medical conditions or prescribe pharmaceuticals.
I do not tell you to stop medications or ignore other forms of care.
My role is to offer thoughtful herbal and lifestyle support that can sit alongside your existing care team. We explore how herbs and simple practices can help your body feel more supported, without stepping outside a clear scope of practice.
What happens before we meet?
The work starts before we are on a call together.
After you book, you receive a secure intake form that covers:
Your health history
Current diagnoses (if any)
Medications and supplements
Your main concerns and goals for the consultation
You do not need to write your entire life story, but the more honest and specific you can be, the more grounded and safe our work can be.
I also ask about your daily patterns, such as:
Energy levels across the day
Sleep quality and timing
Digestion and elimination
Stress and nervous system load
These details help me see what is going on in context, not just as isolated symptoms.
Finally, I outline the logistics clearly:
Session length (usually 60–90 minutes for an initial consult)
Pricing and payment details
How follow‑ups work
How to contact me if you need to reschedule
Before we meet, I read through your intake, note possible patterns, and prepare questions. I leave plenty of space for you to tell the story in your own words during the session.
Inside the first session
A first session is less about finding “the perfect herb” and more about creating a clear shared understanding of what is happening for you. Most initial herbal consultations last 60–90 minutes. This gives us time to go slowly, especially if you have a complex history or multiple concerns.
During the session, we typically explore:
Your main concerns
What brought you here? What is bothering you most right now?
What “better” would actually look like
I may ask:
“If this were 30–40% better, what would you notice in your daily life?”
“What would be different in your mornings, evenings, or energy?”
Your past experiences with herbs and other care
What you have already tried
What helped, even a little
What felt wrong, confusing, or overwhelming
Daily rhythms
How you wake and how you fall asleep
How you digest different foods
How stress shows up in your body
Capacity and boundaries
How many changes you can hold at once
Your budget for herbs and follow‑up
Non‑negotiables in your life that affect your plan
Throughout the consultation, I’m listening for patterns:
Does this feel primarily nervous‑system, digestive, hormonal, structural, or a blend?
Where does your body already seem to be compensating or asking for help?
Are there any red flags that should be handled by a doctor or specialist instead?
If something medically urgent comes up, I will pause and recommend you seek urgent or emergency care rather than relying on herbs.
What you receive afterward
After our session, I will create a written plan tailored to you.
Most clients get a short, plain‑language summary of:
The key patterns I’m seeing
Our main area of focus for the first phase of work
What we are not tackling yet (so you don’t feel pulled in ten directions at once)
I almost never send someone away with a long list of herbs. Instead, you usually receive one to three key herbal suggestions that match your body, your concerns, and your capacity.
For each herb or formula, I outline:
Why we are using it
The form (tea, tincture, syrup, capsule, etc.)
How much to take and how often
How long to try it before we re‑evaluate
Herbs tend to land better when paired with gentle habits that fit your real life. These might include:
A bedtime tea ritual 3–4 nights per week
A short check‑in after meals to notice digestion and mood
A weekly reflection on energy, pain, or sleep quality
These practices are designed to be doable, not aspirational.
Safety is non‑negotiable. Your plan also includes:
When to reduce or stop a herb
Signs that mean you should contact your doctor or urgent care
Notes about potential interactions or contraindications based on the information you shared
In some cases, I also recommend:
Talking with your primary care provider about specific tests or referrals
Delaying certain herbs due to medications, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or other considerations
We move at the speed of your nervous system, not the speed of the internet.
Is a Herbal Consultation Right for You in 2026?
Herbal consultations are not the right tool for every situation, and that’s okay.
You may be a good fit for a herbal medicine consultation if:
You are curious about herbs, but feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice online
You want a thoughtful, collaborative process instead of a one‑size‑fits‑all protocol
You are ready for small, consistent shifts rather than an overnight fix
You value nuance and want support that respects both herbs and conventional care
It is not the right step if:
You are experiencing a medical emergency (severe chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, uncontrolled bleeding, acute neurological changes, etc.)
You want someone to diagnose you or tell you to stop your medications
You are only interested in a fast, guaranteed “cure.”
Herbs can be powerful allies, but they are part of a broader ecosystem of care, not a replacement for it.
Ready to Explore Herbal Support?
At its core, a herbal consultation is about building a relationship—with your body, with the plants, and with the process of change. We seek ways to support you that honor your life, your capabilities, and your values.
If you’d like support creating a realistic, plant‑supported plan for 2026, you can learn more and book a herbal medicine consultation here.
Not ready for 1:1 work yet? You can join my herbal newsletter for seasonal tips, recipes, and behind‑the‑scenes notes from practice.
