Western Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine combines traditional knowledge with the latest scientific research to treat the body holistically, starting with the root cause of ill health. Medicinal herbs have been used for millennia to support health. They contain numerous constituents that impact many different physiological pathways and aim to restore homeostasis within the body. Herbs can aid with a range of acute and chronic conditions including, but not limited to: stress, anxiety & low mood, women’s health, musculoskeletal complaints, digestive complaints, sleep disorders, cardiovascular health, fatigue & debility, immune support and seasonal allergies.

As long as there have been humans, there have been plants. In fact, plants predate humans, and some such as horsetail (Equisetum arvense L.) and the maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba L.) date back to before dinosaurs roamed the Earth- creatures that lived between 245 and 66 million years ago. These plants are so ancient that the species are known as ‘living fossils’.

We know that more than 50,000 years ago, stone-age, cave-dwelling humans crushed and infused herbs for their curative properties. Traditional forms of medicine evolved on all continents, and many such as the Ancient Egyptians had complex, hierarchical methods of medicine integrated into their religious beliefs.

The civilisations of Greece and Rome were home to Hippocrates (460-570 BC) and Galen (c.130 AD-c.210 AD) respectively. Hippocrates, often known as the ‘Father of medicine’ set standards for patient care that still exist today with newly qualified physicians still taking the Hippocratic oath. Galen wrote extensively so that his theories and practices influenced the progress of medicine for the next 1400 years!

“Nature itself is the best medicine” – Hippocrates

Modern western herbal medicine, also known as phytotherapy or botanical medicine is herbal medicine for the 21st century. It draws on knowledge gained from our ancestors and is combined with modern medical and scientific knowledge resulting in plant preparations that can treat and prevent illness.

Phytochemicals derived from plants are commonly used in conventional drugs such as Aspirin, Digoxin, and morphine. When plants are used in mainstream medicine, one ‘active’ single phytochemical from the plant material is extracted. This enables the pharmaceutical companies to patent it, concentrate and chemically manipulate it; put it into a tablet, capsule or liquid.

By contrast, western herbal medicine uses whole plants, which are sometimes referred to as ‘whole plant extracts’. This has numerous therapeutic advantages with each plant containing thousands of phytochemicals that work in synergy with each other.

Therapeutic effects on target tissues within the body have in many cases been scientifically proven and are gentler acting than pharmaceutical drugs and therefore the potential for side effects is reduced. Because of the array of phytochemicals within a whole plant extract, one plant can often address several desired therapeutic actions in the body at the same time. With guidance from a medical herbalist as to which formation of plants are suitable for a patient, the cause of illness can often be addressed rather than suppressing symptoms and masking the underlying pathology. In addition, with professional guidance, herbal medicine can work effectively alongside conventional medicines.

Treatment is patient centered with time to listen and question in order to form a whole picture of the individual and presenting condition(s).

Conversation about the plants is optional!

www.humbleherbalmedicine.com

07712 682 774