WHAT IS HERBAL MEDICINE?
The potent healing qualities of herbs have been used in different therapeutic philosophies throughout history. Allopathic medicine, now often called “modern” or “orthodox” medicine, has its roots in the use of herbs. Until about 70 years ago, nearly all entries in pharmacopoeias describing the manufacture of drugs indicated a herbal origin.
Only since the refinement of chemical technology and developments in chemical therapy has the use of herbs apparently diminished. Nonetheless, it should be recognised that the majority of drugs still have their origin in plant material, and allopathic medicine still uses herbs, although in a limited way.
Plants are approached as a source of active ingredients, specific bioactive chemicals that can be analysed, isolated, synthesised and used in the form of potent drugs.
Herbal medicine in its holistic sense recognises the human being as an expression of life, enlivened with life force or the vital force. Herbs should work with this whole being, or the whole person, not just symptoms using isolated constituents from whole plants.
Herbs do function through biochemical interactions and specific actions, but they do so in a way that augments the vital processes of the body. On a biochemical level, the numerous ingredients in a herb work in a synergistic way, with elements involved in the process that chemical therapy would not even consider as being active.
Herbs work on many levels of the human being – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. As the herbs heal our bodies, they may also heal our hearts and minds, for they open the body to a clear flow of integrating and synergising vital energy. .
What is a Medical Herbalist?
A medical herbalist:
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• is highly trained in the philosophies, principles and practice of western herbal medicine and medical science;
• takes a holistic view towards health and illness;
• will assess you as a person and not a disease;
• prescribes and dispenses plant medicines in a safe and effective manner;
• seeks to treat the underlying cause of disease;
• acknowledges the body’s innate ability to heal itself;
• aims to prevent disease and restore health;
• provides dietary and lifestyle advice;
• maintains high standards of professional practice;
• is an authoritative source of information about natural medicine.
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