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 In this section:

•	What is Herbal Medicine
•	Where Did it Originate
•	What Can I Expect
•	Frequency & Cost
•	Gathering and Storing Herbs
•	Preparation Methods
•	*Herbs & Medicinal Trees*
•	Commonly Used Terms
•	Potentially Dangerous Herbs
•	Choosing a Practitioner
•	What Are the Benefits
•	Herbal Medicine as a Career
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•	Herbal Medicine Practitioners

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Herbal Medicine

What is Herbal Medicine?

Herbal Medicine, also known as phytotherapy and botanical medicine, is a sophisticated system of natural medicine which prescribes herbal remedies to help treat various medical conditions. Considered the oldest form of medicine known to man, it has evolved over thousands of years and is often the first choice of treatment in many cultures.

Herbal medicine involves the use of various parts of plants which have therapeutic actions for medicinal purposes. The term ‘herb’ includes flowers, stems, leaves, fruits, roots, seeds, rhizomes, and bark, although some traditions such as Traditional Chinese Medicine also use other naturally occurring substances from animals and minerals.

How does herbal medicine differ from conventional medicine? Herbal medicine forms the basis of modern medicine. Prior to modern medications, the majority of common drugs originated from isolating and using specific compounds within herbs, which were then refined and purified. With the advent of modern day medications, it is currently estimated that less than 15% are derived from herbs. Many common, over-the-counter medications were originally derived from herbs. For example, modern day aspirin comes from the inner bark of the willow tree. In contrast to modern medications, herbal medicines are prepared from either living or dried plants. Herbalists use the 'entire' herb or plant rather than isolating and breaking down it down into separate chemical compounds and then synthesizing it. This is because in herbal medicine, healing requires the natural combination of elements found within the plant or herb, rather than a single chemical extracted from it. Many herbalists feel isolating and prescribing only certain compounds from the herb decreases its effectiveness and strength.

During the 17th century, herbalism began to lose dominance as modern medicine slowly started to create new forms of treatment based on the chemical constituents of plants, allowing them to be mass produced. Although modern medications have overshadowed the use of herbal medicines, a significant percentage of the world’s population still relies on natural healing methods, including herbal medicine.

Modern herbal medicine combines traditional herbal philosophy and knowledge with modern medical understanding. Herbalists use either the whole plant, parts of the plant (such as the leaves or root), or a combination of various plants. Some herbalists use highly developed systems of diagnosis and treatment to treat a wide range of illnesses, while others base their treatments on individual knowledge and clinical experience.

Herbalism is not a “diagnose and treat” healing therapy. It is considered holistic as an herbalist aims to address the needs of patients by working at a physical, physiologicalThe mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms and emotional level. The chemical properties within herbs perform one or more of three functions within the body:

1) cleansing/detoxifying (eliminating toxins and decaying matter within the body)
2) healing
3) nourishing

Chemical properties within the herbs help to stimulate the body’s natural healing response until the response becomes automatic and the herbs are no longer needed.

Herbalists can either prepare herbs and herbal compounds or recommend a retail outlet where the herbs can be purchased. These treatments can come in various forms including teas, gels, capsules/tablets, extracts, tinctures, and essential oils. Many herbs are available from health food stores and natural grocers around the world.


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