A HERBALIST today defended complementary medicine after leading doctors called for an end to free alternative treatment on the NHS.

Herbalist Jane Colbourne from the Heal Well Clinic, Duckworth Street, Darwen, said using organic herbs to treat common illnesses could be of great benefit.

Leading doctors have written to every NHS trust attacking the rise of "unproven and disproved" alternative treatments on the NHS.

They argue only treatments that are well supported by scientific evidence deserve public funding. But Jane, who has a degree in herbal medicine from the University of Central Lancashire, said that did not mean that alternative remedies were useless just that not enough research had been done into their benefits and uses.

Jane will lead a walk through Darwen next Sunday to show people which herbs they can pick locally and use themselves.

And as part of this week's Herbal Awareness Week, Jane hopes to educate more people about how herbs, such as camomile, can help bust stress and stress-related illnesses.

She said: "Herbal medicine is not only something that is good for people it is also kind to the environment and is, above all, natural.

"Many people don't realise how many herbs they use on a daily basis anyway, such as porridge oats or rosemary.

"All I am trying to do is to increase awareness about what works and how certain herbs can be specifically used to treat conditions naturally.

"I know there are doubters but it has worked for me, my family and my clients often where traditional medicine has failed.

"I used to be a severe asthmatic on four inhalers a day and it wasn't until I started using herbal remedies that my asthma started to improve and now I don't need any inhalers."

l To join Jane on her herb walk on June 4, call 07817 106677.