What is Herbal Medicine?

Herbal medicine, also known as phytotherapy, is a traditional healing practice that utilises plants and their extracts for medicinal purposes, to support or prevent illness. It has been practiced for centuries across various cultures around the world and it is estimated by the World Health Organisation that 80% of the world's population use herbal medicine as their primary health care.

Principles

The principles of herbal medicine revolve around the belief that plants possess therapeutic properties that can support the body's natural healing processes. Different herbs are known to contain active compounds that can have various effects on the body, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, analgesic, hormone balancing and immune-modulating, amongst many others.

Research

Many modern allopathic medicines have their origins in medicinal herbs. Throughout history, various cultures have used plants and herbs for medicinal purposes. As science has advanced, researchers have identified active compounds within these plants and isolated them or developed synthetic versions, to create modern pharmaceutical drugs. Herbal medicine continues to play a significant role in both traditional and modern healthcare practices, and its contributions to the development of allopathic medicines has been and continues to be, invaluable.

How could medicinal herbs help you?

Herbal remedies can be used to address a wide range of health conditions, including digestive disorders, respiratory issues, inflammatory conditions, skin problems, hormonal imbalances, stress and anxiety, sleep disorders, and many more.

Herbal treatments tend to have fewer side effects than conventional medicine and several herbs can be combined into one preparation to help with multiple complaints if necessary.

It's important to note that while herbal medicine can be incredibly beneficial, it's advisable to consult with a qualified professional herbalist for proper guidance to establish which herbs are suitable for you, to provide you with quality herbs from reputable suppliers and to ensure any herbal treatment complements and doesn't interact with any existing treatments or medications you may currently be taking.

Please note, as there is currently no statutory regulation for medical herbalists, anyone can call themselves a herbalist. Before choosing a practitioner, check to see if they are members of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, the College of Practitioners of Phytotherapy or the European Herbal and Traditional Practitioners Association, whose members have to be fully qualified and referenced before being accepted into these organisations.