Herbal Medicine
Green Medicine!
The use of medicinal plants, along with massage, must surely be the one of the oldest forms of medicines used by human beings. Herbal medicine is highly effective and certainly remains relevant today.
Harness the tremendous healing power of plants, the first medicine on Earth!
How medicinal plants are used
Plants and plant parts may used in various kinds of preparations both internally and externally. They can be used in two different ways:
- To treat symptoms or conditions. This is similar to conventional medical practice except that herbs are used instead of pharmaceutical drugs. This is the best method when the symptom is acute (severe and of recent onset).
- To treat the underlying physiological imbalances which in the long term have predisposed to the symptoms or condition. This is the best method when the condition is chronic or recurrent (i.e. long-term).
In practice, in many cases I find that the best approach is to do both. Thus, typically one would prescribe the fewest herbs necessary to treat:
- The main symptom.
- Other related symptoms.
- The underlying imbalances.
Herbs are entirely complementary to other modalities of natural healing, and are often best used in conjunction with dietary or lifestyle changes. Remember that if the things that caused the problem to arise are not changed, the problem will not go away, and if it does it will probably recur!
The vital qualities of medicinal plants
In many traditional medical systems – for example Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, traditional Western herbalism and many other systems used in rural and pre-agricultural societies throughout the world – the physiological imbalances underlying illness are thought of in terms of qualities such as Heat and Cold, Dryness and Damp. Herbs are recommended which counter the Heat, Cold, Dryness or Damp in the body. Thus a Hot condition will be treated with Cold herbs, a Damp condition with Dry herbs. Herbalists refer to these characteristics in a herb as its “energetics” or “vital qualities”.
What can be treated with medicinal plants?
The range of conditions which can be effectively treated with herbs is wide, and the number for which herbs may make a useful contribution is wider. I would go so far as to say there is no condition where herbs could not be usefully employed in some respect.
My special expertise is in:
- Musculoskeletal health.
- Muscle, joint and nerve pain.
- Rheumatic conditions.
- Pain in general.
- Neurology.
- Stress, mood disorders and the relationship between psychology and health.
In practice I am called upon to treat all kinds of complaints!
Herbal medicine is not homeopathy
Although it employs plant material in addition to mineral and animal substances, homeopathy is a completely different therapeutic system to herbal medicine, using highly diluted material that has undergone a lengthy process of shaking said to amplify the “potency” of the substance. Herbal medicine on the other hand uses substantial doses of herbal material that has undergone only minimal processing. I practise herbal medicine, not homeopathy.
Safety first
It is important that the herbalist gain a complete picture of the client’s medical history before recommending herbs. Some herbs are contraindicated in certain conditions, and many herbs may interfere with certain kinds of medications. Thus, at the interview the herbalist always asks about any illnesses that the client has and the medicines that they are taking.
My practice of botanical medicine
My herbal practice is based on traditional Chinese herbal medicine, but also makes use of Western herbs when they are good substitutes for equivalent Chinese herbs.
Note on terminology
The terms “herbology”, “botanical medicine”, “herbal medicine”, “medical herbalism”, “medical botany” and “phytotherapy” are all used to refer to the use of plants for therapeutic purposes. Although some might say they have different connotations, for practical purposes they all mean the same thing. In herbal medicine the word “herb” is taken to mean any medicinal plant.