In recent years, Alternative Healing has skyrocketed to the forefront of the medical field, and a 2004 government survey concluded that more than one third of adult Americans use alternative medicine and healing, including the use of Herbal Medicine. While it may seem “trendy” to some, Herbal Medicine has been around for thousands of years.   In fact, many of the familiar pharmaceutical medications we use today were originally created from “natural” ingredients. Drugs like opium (from poppies), aspirin (from willow bark), digitalis (from foxglove) and quinine (from the cinchona tree.)

Herbal Medicine, simply put, is the use of botanicals (plants) either singularly or in combination to prevent and treat certain ailments and illnesses. People native to different geographical locations have used plants and plant extracts to cure specific maladies for centuries. Sometimes referred to as “folk” medicine, Herbal Medicine is generally categorized into three cultural traditions. There is the study of medicines based on Greek, Roman and medieval sources which is largely used by Western schools of thought, Ayurvedic which comes from India, and the Eastern tradition of Chinese Herbal Medicine. 

These different traditions provide more commonality than division because the most ancient peoples used plants that were native to their geographical location which provides sound reasoning as to why different traditions exist, but the principle remains the same.

Dating back to more than 6,000 years, Ayurvedic Medicine originally was concerned treating the root cause of disease which was steeped in strengthening the immune system. With all our so-called advancements in the medical field, it’s interesting that western physicians are still treating “effect” rather than “cause.” The old adage that, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” could not be truer, especially when it comes to natural remedies. Herbal medicine is most effective when used on a preventative basis.

Because there are so many botanicals and combinations, over a half million known herbs that could be used as possible remedies, in-depth knowledge of herbal medicine requires years of study.  Nothing in the makeup of a plant tells us in what way it would be used the best. The Chinese Herbal practitioners have over 2,000 that are readily available in their pharmacies. Herbal remedies around the globe very in strength from very mild, gentle remedies that we even use as food to potential poisons if taken at the wrong dose.

Folk use of herbal remedies has been passed down from generation to generation. and many remedies are familiar to most people. For example, most of us know great-aunt Mary’s homemade cold remedy or some similar recipe. Unfortunately, that is what fuels the fire of the scientific community and their disdain, but generations of experience and knowledge should not be so readily dismissed. In fact, many of our current pharmacological concoctions have their roots in herbal medicine, thankfully, the current changes in the world attitude toward traditional remedies is changing and changing for the better.

While we know herbs can be good medicine, definite dangers exist with amateur usage. There are over 300,000 higher plant species, but trained and experienced herbalist may know of one or two thousand of them. This means that even an experienced herbalist can make mistakes.  For example, pregnant women should avoid barberry root bark, cascara sagrada, feverfew, juniper berries, mugwort, pennyroyal, pokeroot, rue, senna, southernwood, tansy, thuja and wormwood. All of those herbs can increase a risk for miscarriage. Safe herbs during pregnancy would be Manna, Butternut Bark or Root, Flax Seed, Slippery Elm and Lemon Verbena.

Here’s a few general guidelines for caution when using Herbal Medicine:

 Do not let these cautions frighten you about herbal remedies; they are much less dangerous the synthetic pharmaceuticals. However, like all medicines they must be used with caution and knowledge. You should always consult your own medical practitioners before embarking on any program that affects your health and well being.