Context: Conditions associated with distress can have a negative impact on an individual’s well-being. Herbal medicine is shown to be of potential use for these conditions, but there is little research into how the users of western herbal medicine experience the practice. Methodology: The study used semi-structured interviews of twenty-six women, to elicit patient narratives at two time points. Thematic analysis has been used to elicit themes from the narratives. Preliminary Results: Distress can be isolating, but can also be seen as socially unacceptable by the sufferers. Consulting with a herbalist not only provides herbal treatment, but also an evolving therapeutic relationship which has potential to empower the patient. Conclusions: Practitioner accessibility, having one’s story heard, feeling supported, and being given back control are important features of the herbal encounter. However, failure to achieve these can result in an unsatisfactory experience, even if the herbal treatment is seen as successful. |