Dee Atkinson

Medical Herbalist BA(Hons) FNIMH Medical Herbalist

Dee is the senior herbal practitioner at Napiers the Herbalists in Edinburgh. She runs a general medicine clinic with a special interest in women’s health, managing hormonal health and ageing. More recently, Dee set up the Napiers Long Covid Clinic to facilitate an integrated approach between doctors, herbalists and nutritionist to this new disease.

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About Dee

I take an eclectic and wide ranging approach to health and to both assessing and working with my patients. I have learnt that there is no one answer or way to good health, but rather many inter-linking paths and crossovers.

I have trained in orthodox medical science and clinical diagnosis but also have an understanding that illness has both a physical and an 'energy' side. I take time with my patients to work on both the presenting symptoms and the possible underlying causes. I will often ask for copies of blood work, or arrange for further testes to be done. I know that flexibility and understanding are needed when working with complex health situations and there is rarely a ‘one size fits all’ approach. I often use different modalities such as nutrition and lifestyle advice and working within a multidisciplinary clinic means that patients have the benefit of access to other therapists and I often cross refer where appropriate.

Ill health and disease are often the expression of internal imbalance. In many cases, we do not fully understand the mechanisms that lead to this imbalance, sometimes seeking help for one physical problem, such as a rash for example, when the real issue comes from an internal imbalance. I always look beyond the presenting complaint to try to understand this imbalance: it might come from the gut microbiome for instance, or it could be an inherited pathway or perhaps be driven by stress.

The true aim of a herbal consultation is to restore both physical and energy balances throughout the body and to help the patient with a health road map. Herbal Medicine is the oldest known form of medicine and, in world terms, is the most widely used form of medicine. Herbal medicine can work well alongside orthodox medicine and patients can often benefit from a dual approach.

WHO COMES TO DEE'S CLINIC?

Many of my patients have chronic health issues and come to herbal medicine looking for support in the management of them, whilst others have a single problem that they want to address. Some patients are referred by their GP or consultant, and I often work as part of a patient's healthcare team. I may suggest that other treatments, either orthodox or complementary, would be more appropriate for your condition. It is always my responsibility to make sure that I take the best approach for your health issue.

A large part of my practice is working with women's health care, with an emphasis on managing hormonal change and ageing. I also support patients who are undergoing cancer treatments, often working with their healthcare team. This is an area of special interest in which I have personal experience. I have over 35 years of clinical experience and have worked with many different health scenarios. If you are unsure about whether I can help, please contact me before booking or talk to the Edinburgh Clinic reception team.

ABOUT DEE

Dee qualified in 1988 after four years of intensive study at the now famous School Of Herbal Medicine under the guidance of Hein Zeylestra. With a passion for the UK tradition of herbal dispensaries and the history of plant medicine, Dee was offered the opportunity to take over Napiers in Edinburgh, the UK’s oldest herbal house. She re-built the business and set up integrated health clinics, bringing together students of herbal medicine, doctors and qualified herbalists. Dee has handed over the Napiers business and now she concentrates on her clinical practice.

Dee is a Fellow of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists and regularly attends conferences and training workshops both in the UK and abroad. She has been a Council Member of NIMH, and has represented the profession in negotiations with The Department of Health and in Parliament.

Dee is a senior clinical supervisor on the Heartwood Professional Course in Herbal Medicine and a guest lecturer on the Royal Botanic gardens Diploma in Herbology course.

Please note that Dee is currently working alongside a clinical assistant, Sara Hennessy. Sara is a fully qualified herbalist in her own right and is assisting Dee with the management of parts of her clinic. Your case may be reviewed by both herbalists to offer a more complete picture.

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Dee Atkinson

About Dee

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