Overview

The medicinal properties of herbs and plants have been used by mankind since time began. Our ancestors, by trial and error, found the most effective local plants to heal their illnesses. Now, with the advancement of science enabling us to identify the chemical constituents within these plants, we can better understand their healing powers.

History

Herbal Medicine is one of the oldest skills still practised: just about every human culture in history had some version of it. Of course, before the modern developments in science were made, herbalists did not know why their plant remedies worked and they may have made guesses at explanations which now seem quaintly inaccurate (as were many of the 'orthodox' medical theories in the past!)

This was less important though, than the demonstration that the remedies 'did' work - and this part of the knowledge is what has been passed down to present day practitioners.

Contemporary herbalists, as well as doctors, have benefited from medical science: we understand more about how the body works in health, what happens when it is diseased, and how and why the herbal remedies help to correct the processes that have gone wrong. Many plants have been analysed to reveal their most important therapeutic ingredients.

All this relatively new knowledge has been added to the traditional knowledge of herbal medicine to produce better informed practitioners who are able to benefit from the wealth of experience of previous generations.

Benefits

Herbal Medicine is one of the most universally applicable systems we have. Problems may be minor or severe, straight forward or complex. Depending on what is occurring on the affected tissues, there will always be some way in which herbal medicines can help.

The role of Herbal Medicine may be indirect, such as aiding the digestion, encouraging relaxation, improving the circulation or eliminating functions.

Deficiencies in any of these systems will be adding to the burden of disease the body is having to cope with. If these supplementary problems can be improved, the chances of recovering from the specific illness are significantly improved.

Procedure

The best chances of success with herbal medicines can be obtained if you use them in the context of the following two principles of natural healing:-

1. Allow rest for both the body and mind - this will create the best medium for the natural healing powers of the body to perform their work.

2. Take a light "cleansing diet" with plenty of fluids and eat mainly fruit and vegetables for a day or two. If fruit and vegetables are found to be too indigestible, reduce their intake and replace with light soups and small amounts of cereal foods.

Source of information: Herbs and Health by Nicola Peterson