Before
the consultation can start I will go through a patient consent form with you,
unless it was sent through prior to the consultation along with a diet diary
sheet to read through and once you’re happy we both sign it.The initial
consultation will generally take about 90 minutes. In the consultation the main
emphasis is to listen to the patient and there is space both for hearing the
whole of a complex medical history and for patients to unload any emotional
burdens that might be associated with this. In general herbalists try to
balance their insights into the physical and emotional aspects of a 
patient's
condition. I also check in great detail the diet and lifestyle of the patient
and encourage understanding on how this can affect their health. Whilst not all
consultations will require any physical examination, I will often listen to
heart or breath sounds, palpate an abdomen or examine a joint. Recording of a
patient's blood pressure is often routine.