What is Western Herbal Medicine?
For thousands of year’s herbal medicine has been used by indigenous societies to treat their ills. Both in the east and in the west, philosophies as well as tradition have maintained a strong influence on health care systems. Today it is recognized by the World Health Organisation that herbs are the most widespread form of medicine used by people living on our planet. The amount of scientific research being conducted on herbs is increasing as the need for evidence based medicine becomes greater. Traditional medicine has proven that herbal medicines are effective but now we are beginning to delve into the field of chemistry to try and discern how these herbal medicines actually work.
Herbal medicine is the use of plant-based medicines to promote good health and treat illness. It is the oldest form of medicine known. Modern Western herbal medicine (sometimes known as ‘phytotherapy’, phyto- being the Latin for plant) combines this traditional knowledge with insights from clinical and scientific laboratory research into the active constituents of herbs and their chemical actions. How does herbal medicine work? Western herbal medicine aims to improve the function of key bodily systems to restore a balanced state of health. These include the digestive system, immune system and the organs responsible for elimination of waste, e.g. the urinary system and skin. It is useful to think of herbal medicines in a similar way to using plants as food they nourish and sustain the body as well as treating illness. In some cases, herbs can also be used in a similar way to orthodox drugs, such as anti-inflammatory or antibiotic herbs. Treatment is tailored to the individual by the pre
