Herbal Medicine : The Use Of Natural Plant Substances For Treat And Prevent Illness

“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.

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.

In modern medicine, alternative therapies are poorly understood and studied. The preference for alternative therapies, and herbal medicine were indicated, and the fear of relinquishing information regarding these practices were almost paralyzing. It seemed as though they were ashamed to admit to cultural healing practices, and did not divulge information to practitioners regarding their usage. The cultural disconnect was present as alternative/complimentary medicines are valued as a culture, and “modern” practitioners cast judgment on their usage. This perceived stigma additionally limited the information shared by the cultural participants with modern medical treatments, potentially causing additional harm, as some herbals are potentially toxic.

In this day and age, there are millions of pharmaceuticals out there for all kinds of diseases and conditions, but where did all of this start? The creation of medicines most likely started when people discovered the healing properties plants contained. Today, mankind has the knowledge and technology to extract elements from plants to produce more chemically engineered medicines. The real question is how did medicines develop from mashing up leaves in order to lessen an infuriating rash to just popping a pill to nurse or illness? Medicines evolved by the scientific method: series of research and experiments. During the Elizabethan era, research and experimentation attained a renewed interest.

Native Americans who occupied the land before the arrival of the Europeans possessed a vast knowledge of botanical medicines that intrigued the newcomers. The natives mixed roots, herbs, and plants to cure various medical maladies. Healing for the natives were not just herbal remedies,

Herbal medicine has been traced back to Neanderthal time by researchers finding plant micro fossils in dental area of skeletons found in that time period.

The study of alternative medicine originated in China during the Austrian Empire and has developed since the eighteenth century.

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

To begin, the definition of herbal remedies can be paraphrased into a sentence. In general, herbal remedies are used all around the world in countries that do not have access to modern healthcare. This can answer the question why but is there a more

It is astonishing to me how plants from the ground can help with certain illnesses and viruses. I plan on becoming a medical doctor, and when I reach my goal of becoming one, I want to incorporate the study of Herbalism in my practices. The idea of Herbalism is what makes becoming a medical doctor more interesting for me. I am seeking a profession in medicine because I want to provide great health care service to individuals around the world, but I want to do so by implementing natural remedies. This way there are minimal side effects that would harm sick

In 1651 the reference book Culpeper’s Complete Herbal came out and created an even bigger community of avid herbal users. This book was the most popular herb book for decades.

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

Modern medicine and healthcare system have categorized herbal medicine as a natural remedy used when people can’t afford to purchase conventional drugs. They are perceived inferior because they cost less but the health benefits are endless. However, there have been various situations and instances that prove that herbal medicine is good for health.

It is important to grasp that one cannot understand Traditional Chinese Medicine by trying to explain it in Western scientific or medical terms. The ancient Chinese physicians developed a system of medicine that has survived for over three thousand years. Chinese medicine is complete within itself but that it is based on physiological concepts, theories regarding cause of disease, methods of diagnosis, and principles of treatment that are completely different from the western way of viewing the body.