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Herbalism

Background

A tradition of herbal medicine can be traced back through most cultures over several thousands of years. In Europe, the growth of science in the 18th century meant that herbalism fell out of favour, but it is regaining popularity, and is now taught at several UK universities. Chinese herbalism is also now well established in the West - this differs from Western herbalism in some respects.

There are a number of basic principles behind the administering of herbs to treat illness: One is that people are treated, not the symptoms. This means that it is hard to say which of a number of possible herbs will be most effective on an individual's symptom, without a full understanding of the individual's physiological and psychological make-up and general state of health. It is a holistic treatment, and the cause of the symptoms must be addressed for it to be most effective. For example, St John's Wort is now fairly well recognised as a useful anti-depressant; however, it is only effective on the type of person who needs their nervous system calmed, whereas some depressives need their nervous system stimulated. It is, therefore, on the whole better to see a herbalist than to try to arrive at the correct herb for you by a process of trial and error, though this is sometimes possible.

Another, related, principle is that the body heals itself - herbs are prescribed not to artificially introduce an action into the system, as is the case with conventional medicine, but rather to restore balance in the body. Different herbs stimulate or suppress the action of different systems in the body. For example, herbalists maintain that when we have eczema, the body is reacting to an excess of heat. The body will try to heal itself, but the use of cooling herbs will help it.

Further, 'herbal synergy' is important - this is the idea that the different natural chemicals that are found in a single plant all work together in the body. It is thought to explain why the chemicals, when extracted and used in isolation may have side effects, which do not occur if the whole plant is taken. For example, meadowsweet contains salicylic acid, which is the basis of the drug aspirin - aspirin can cause internal bleeding, but meadowsweet also contains tannin and mucilage, which protect the stomach.

Which conditions may be treated?
Claims are made that herbs can be helpful for treating almost all illnesses, though the most commonly treated ones include:

Arthritis
Asthma
Brain injury
Cancer
Candida
Cardiovascular disease
Coughs/colds
Depression
Digestive problems (irritable bowel, ulcers)
High blood pressure
Injuries
Menstrual/menopausal problems
Prostate/bladder problems
Respiratory problems
Skin complaints (eczema, psoriasis, neurodermatitis)
Sleeplessness
Stress

Herbs are also used to boost the immune system, increasing the body's resistance to disease.

Treatment

The Treatment
Before a herb, or most often a combination of herbs, can be prescribed and prepared for you, your practitioner will first assess your condition by means of verbal and physical examination. It is particularly important to ascertain whether your body is predominantly hot or cold, as indicated by blood heat. Heat is symptomatic of over-activity in the functions of organs, and coldness, under-activity. It is also important to learn whether the body is damp (as indicated by clamminess and urine flow) or dry.

Self help
Many herbal preparations are available over-the-counter from health food shops and pharmacies. It is important to choose good suppliers, and to follow the instructions on the label.

It is also possible to prepare your own simple herbal teas: add one teaspoon of dried herbs, or two of fresh per cup of boiling water. Leave to infuse in a teapot for ten minutes. This tea should be drunk several times a day, or may be used externally on a burn or cut. Plants such as lavender, nettle, rose, camomile and rosemary are easily grown, and can be helpful for a wide range of conditions.

However, remember that herbalism is holistic, and does not treat symptoms in isolation. For this reason, it is often best to seek professional advice.

The Herbs
200-300 different herbs are used by Western herbalists. The petals, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, berries and internal gel of plants are all used medicinally - the different parts of the same plant can have quite different properties, so it is important that the correct part is selected for your needs. They tend to be dried, but may also be used fresh.

The plants can be prepared in a variety of ways, and are often combined. The most common forms of preparation are:

decoctions - tough parts of the plant are boiled in water; the liquid containing the active ingredients is then strained.

tinctures - the herb is soaked in alcohol and water for two weeks, then strained in a muslin-lined wine press.

infusions - the herbs are covered with very hot water and left to steep for ten minutes. The resulting liquid is much like a tea, and may be sweetened with honey.

infused oils - used for massage, these oils may be made by placing the herbs and oil over heat, or they may just be left in sunlight.

creams - oil, water, glycerine and herbs are simmered for several hours, before being strained and left to set.

ointments - oil and herbs are combined over heat, then strained and left to set. These are particularly useful for when the skin needs to be protected from moisture.

Tablets/capsules

Some examples of herbs and their medicinal properties:

Aloe Anti-inflammatory, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, wound healing
Astragalus Anti microbial, heart disease, immune function, lupus, wound healing
Bee propolis Anti bacterial, dental health, flu, herpes, wound healing
Cabbage leaf Anti-inflammatory, arthritis
Camomile Stress, insomnia, toothache, flu, arthritis, burns
Comfrey Soothing and healing, burns, bruises, sprains, fractures
Coriander Stress, digestive disorders, inflammation (eg cystitis, arthritis)
Dandelion Water retention, gallstones, rheumatism, grief, warts
Echinacea purpurea Immune system
Feverfew Migraine
Garlic High blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, immune system, cancer
Ginger Nausea, colds, flu
Ginkgo biloba Free radicals, anticoagulant, tinnitus, brain injury, heart disease
Ginseng Immune system, brain function, cancer
Green tea Cancer, heart disease
Hawthorn Congestive heart failure
Lavender Stress, headaches, migraine, insomnia, indigestion
Marigold Antiseptic and healing, bruises, cuts, digestive disorders, infections
Mistletoe Cancer Nettle Cuts, burns, piles, fevers
Peppermint Irritable bowel syndrome
Rhodiola Energy, alertness, anti-depressive
Rose Anxiety, depression, restores digestive balance
Rosemary Anxiety, immune system, headaches, aids digestion
St John's wort Depression
Turmeric Cancer
Yohimbine Heart disease, narcolepsy

Side-effects and cautions
Well-prescribed and well-prepared herbal remedies are usually free from unpleasant side-effects, after-effects and allergic reactions. However, excessive intake of beneficial herbal remedies can be toxic. If you are taking any conventional medicines, seek advice from a herbalist to avoid herb/drug interactions. For example, kelp can interfere with the activity of antithyroid drugs, and ginseng may react with the anti-depressant phenelzine. Do not discontinue medication without consulting your doctor.

Although they are non-addictive, it is nonetheless possible to become dependent on a remedy if you believe, for example, that it is helping you to sleep.

Serious illnesses, such as diabetes, epilepsy, cancer and high blood pressure should always be monitored by a conventional doctor. Always consult a doctor or qualified herbalist before taking a herbal remedy when pregnant or breast feeding.

Never buy herbal products by mail order - you have no guarantee that they are safe.

Research

For an interesting article, and list of trials of herbal medicine, see the BMJ 12th August, 2000
- Herbal Medicines: Where is the Evidence? by Professor E Ernst, Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Exeter.
- http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7258/395(The BMJ can be contacted on 020 7383 6396 ) The Treatment
Before a herb, or most often a combination of herbs, can be prescribed and prepared for you, your practitioner will first assess your condition by means of verbal and physical examination. It is particularly important to ascertain whether your body is predominantly hot or cold, as indicated by blood heat. Heat is symptomatic of over-activity in the functions of organs, and coldness, under-activity. It is also important to learn whether the body is damp (as indicated by clamminess and urine flow) or dry.

Self help
Many herbal preparations are available over-the-counter from health food shops and pharmacies. It is important to choose good suppliers, and to follow the instructions on the label.

It is also possible to prepare your own simple herbal teas: add one teaspoon of dried herbs, or two of fresh per cup of boiling water. Leave to infuse in a teapot for ten minutes. This tea should be drunk several times a day, or may be used externally on a burn or cut. Plants such as lavender, nettle, rose, camomile and rosemary are easily grown, and can be helpful for a wide range of conditions.

However, remember that herbalism is holistic, and does not treat symptoms in isolation. For this reason, it is often best to seek professional advice.

The Herbs
200-300 different herbs are used by Western herbalists. The petals, seeds, leaves, flowers, roots, berries and internal gel of plants are all used medicinally - the different parts of the same plant can have quite different properties, so it is important that the correct part is selected for your needs. They tend to be dried, but may also be used fresh.

The plants can be prepared in a variety of ways, and are often combined. The most common forms of preparation are:

decoctions - tough parts of the plant are boiled in water; the liquid containing the active ingredients is then strained.

tinctures - the herb is soaked in alcohol and water for two weeks, then strained in a muslin-lined wine press.

infusions - the herbs are covered with very hot water and left to steep for ten minutes. The resulting liquid is much like a tea, and may be sweetened with honey.

infused oils - used for massage, these oils may be made by placing the herbs and oil over heat, or they may just be left in sunlight.

creams - oil, water, glycerine and herbs are simmered for several hours, before being strained and left to set.

ointments - oil and herbs are combined over heat, then strained and left to set. These are particularly useful for when the skin needs to be protected from moisture.

Tablets/capsules

Some examples of herbs and their medicinal properties:

Aloe Anti-inflammatory, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, wound healing
Astragalus Anti microbial, heart disease, immune function, lupus, wound healing
Bee propolis Anti bacterial, dental health, flu, herpes, wound healing
Cabbage leaf Anti-inflammatory, arthritis
Camomile Stress, insomnia, toothache, flu, arthritis, burns
Comfrey Soothing and healing, burns, bruises, sprains, fractures
Coriander Stress, digestive disorders, inflammation (eg cystitis, arthritis)
Dandelion Water retention, gallstones, rheumatism, grief, warts
Echinacea purpurea Immune system
Feverfew Migraine
Garlic High blood pressure, arthritis, asthma, immune system, cancer
Ginger Nausea, colds, flu
Ginkgo biloba Free radicals, anticoagulant, tinnitus, brain injury, heart disease
Ginseng Immune system, brain function, cancer
Green tea Cancer, heart disease
Hawthorn Congestive heart failure
Lavender Stress, headaches, migraine, insomnia, indigestion
Marigold Antiseptic and healing, bruises, cuts, digestive disorders, infections
Mistletoe Cancer Nettle Cuts, burns, piles, fevers
Peppermint Irritable bowel syndrome
Rhodiola Energy, alertness, anti-depressive
Rose Anxiety, depression, restores digestive balance
Rosemary Anxiety, immune system, headaches, aids digestion
St John's wort Depression
Turmeric Cancer
Yohimbine Heart disease, narcolepsy

Side-effects and cautions
Well-prescribed and well-prepared herbal remedies are usually free from unpleasant side-effects, after-effects and allergic reactions. However, excessive intake of beneficial herbal remedies can be toxic. If you are taking any conventional medicines, seek advice from a herbalist to avoid herb/drug interactions. For example, kelp can interfere with the activity of antithyroid drugs, and ginseng may react with the anti-depressant phenelzine. Do not discontinue medication without consulting your doctor.

Although they are non-addictive, it is nonetheless possible to become dependent on a remedy if you believe, for example, that it is helping you to sleep.

Serious illnesses, such as diabetes, epilepsy, cancer and high blood pressure should always be monitored by a conventional doctor. Always consult a doctor or qualified herbalist before taking a herbal remedy when pregnant or breast feeding.

Never buy herbal products by mail order - you have no guarantee that they are safe.

Research
For an interesting article, and list of trials of herbal medicine, see the BMJ 12th August, 2000
- Herbal Medicines: Where is the Evidence? by Professor E Ernst, Department of Complementary Medicine, School of Postgraduate Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Exeter.
- http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7258/395(The BMJ can be contacted on 020 7383 6396 )

Resources

National Institute of Medical Herbalists
56 Longbrook Street
Exeter EX4 6 AH Tel: 01392 426 022
http://www.nimh.org.uk

European Herbal Practitioners Association (EHPA)
45A Corsica Street
London
N5 1JT
Tel: 020 7354 5067
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~ehpa/index.htm

American Herbalists Guild
1931 Gaddis Road
Canton, GA
30115
Tel: 001 770 751-6021
http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com

Books

Simon Y. Mills (Compiler) - The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism : A Comprehensive Guide to Practical Herbal Therapy ISBN: 1567312233

David Hoffman - Holistic Herbal ISBN 0 007 133 014

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