Controversy Or Phytotherapy: Does Herbalist Need?

“Use of herbs as medicines dates back to the beginning of civilized man. The earliest known written records of herbal medicines were inscribed on a six thousand year old clay tablet written by the Sumerians, who lived on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now known as Iraq”(History).

I came across many herbal remedies for everyday ailments. After visiting multiple websites describing the basics of herbology, and reading books such as The New Age Herbalist by Richard Mabey, I found that not only are herbal remedies usually safer than conventional drugs, but often times more beneficial. This sprouted a growing interest inside of me and inspired me to learn as much as I could on the topic. I have found which herbs are helpful to my specific needs, and also everyday illnesses such as headaches and colds. The Internet has provided me with information on how to prepare different mixtures of herbs in various forms ranging from soaps and teas to salves and shampoos.

Professionals say there are many side effects of herbal medicine however there are some alleged purposes: It can be used to treat migraines, eczema, migraines and chronic fatigue.

Herbal medicines are known to treat many illnesses. Aside from this, they are widely known for their effects on weight loss problems. Although most herbal medicines do not have therapeutic claims, some are considered to be very potent and effective that they are accepted by many health agencies worldwide.

An increasing number of medical schools are now offering courses in alternative medicine for their students, and some hospitals already have alternative medicine departments. The availability of healers and doctors practicing holistic medicine has also increased in recent years, and more and more people are educating themselves in these new fields. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that between 65 and 80 percent of the world’s population (about 3 billion people) rely on traditional medicine as their primary form of health care.

Many monasteries had herb gardens. The monks used their knowledge of medicine from the books in their libraries to make herbal remedies. However, there is little evidence of them being able to make new cures for disease.

It was not until the late 18th century when western medicine came into existence. Although ancient and herbal medicine are old they are still practiced among various communities in different parts of the world. For example, the Hmong in Laos and Vietnam practice herbal medicine and shamanism. When the Hmong

Alternative medicine is novel to many western healthcare practices today, however its roots date back to more than 5000 years ago. The origin of alternative medicine is difficult to illustrate because it has influences from many diverse cultures including indigenous populations in the Americas and European civilians such as Romans and Greeks. However, many historians credit the Eastern traditions such as Ancient Chinese, Ancient Indian, and Ancient Egyptian practices as the true pioneers to alternative medicine as we see today. Alternative medicine has transversed to the West as many healthcare practices are in the pursuit of integrating eastern medicine ideals to their already established western medicine. However, how do these practices

herbal.While the popularity of the English Physician was notable,other herbal also found a place in

Until the day I came across a term, since then has never left my mind. Naturopathy. Unlike homeopathy, naturopathy integrates the science of modern day medicine with the art of traditional medicine. I have always been interested in the field of traditional medicine as a hobby, but never thought I could pursue a successful career in it.

Herbs are used for all sorts of health and body care products along with culinary purposes. An herb farm could supply herbs to pharmaceutical or cosmetic companies as well as directly to the consumer. The world market for herbs is volatile with prices as low as a dollar per pound for some herbs to more than one hundred dollars a pound for others (USDA Department of Agriculture, 2012). Political situations in some third world countries where herb production is typically found can cause shortages and wide price fluctuations (USDA Department of Agriculture, 2012). Increasing commercial harvesting in the United States could decrease our dependence on imports. This could lead to a decrease in the costs of dietary supplements and other natural remedies that are becoming

Central Idea: To inform the audience about the history of herbal medicine, provide examples of common herbal medicines and uses, and share my own experiences with herbal medicine.

Herbalism or phytotherapy has many definitions but in essence is the interaction between humans and the plant kingdom (Hoffmann, 2003). Herbalism is based on three principles: 1. The correlation of the herb to the disease or disease picture, 2. The harmony the herb has to an organ system, and 3. The ability of the herb to assist healing in the body (Wood, 2018). Herbalism contains many different branches of which there is Chinese, Japanese, Tibetan and Ayurvedic branches, and is used to treat a wide variety of symptoms. Herbalists make their medication from plants and are dispensed in many

Most patients now prefer herbal medicine as compared to medicinal drugs. They are becoming popular to treat everything from minor to major to diseases. The reason why people are so into herbal medicine is because of their natural qualities that promote a healthy method of healing various products.

From Yoga to natural medicines like neem, honey etc. Naturopathy believes in no or minimally invasive techniques and using all natural medicines to cure diseases.