Herbal Medicine

Ancient practices and historical uses of herbal medicine  

Historically, herbal medicine has been used for a range of health conditions throughout the world for tens of thousands of years. The oldest written evidence found of medicinal uses of plants was found on a Sumerian clay slab from Nadpur approximately 5000 years ago referring to 250 different plant species.

One of the greatest physicians of all time was a Greek healer known as Hippocrates of Cos (aka the father of medicine) who lived from 460 B.C. to 375 B.C. Over a 700 year period Hippocrates and his successors referenced 380 plant species and their uses in 3100 different conditions.

Some examples of herbal medicine practices implemented by Hippocrates were:

– Wormwood for treating fever.

– Garlic for treating intestinal parasites.

– Hellebore for inducing vomiting.

– Oak and pomegranate for treating treat cuts and reduce bleeding.

Many of these plants are still used today, by practitioners through-out the world. Since Hippocrates, Western herbal medicine has adopted a broad range of practices and traditions from around the world.

Modern herbal medicine – an evidenced based approach

Today modern herbal medicine has evolved and its primary focus is to utilise an evidence-based approach to prove its efficacy. Herbs used by modern herbalists and naturopaths, have a wide range of therapeutic actions which are designed to treat a number of health conditions. This is due to the hundreds of naturally occurring constituents called phytonutrients within each plant. Each constituent has its own therapeutic action, from gut healing, increasing immunity, increasing energy, reducing inflammation, stress reduction, organ protection and so on.

Both herbalists and naturopaths use whole herbal extracts rather than single constituents of each plant. Whole extracts contain either the whole plant or part of the plant such as the leaf, flower, fruit or root. Herbal extracts contain multiple key constituents which work synergistically together, with minimal negative effects.

Vital force

Within each individual is a vital force. The healthier the individual, the greater the vital force. The unhealthier the individual the weaker the vital force. Disease, stress, poor food choices, stress and poor lifestyle choices can deplete a persons vital force. Herbal medicine supports the body’s innate ability to self-heal and strengthen this vital force within.

Herbal medicine in naturopathy

A skilled naturopath, has the skills to combine certain herbs together, improving their overall effects on the body. Herbal remedies can be used in infants from 6 months old to the elderly when used correctly. Specific herbs can be useful in pregnancy while others need to be avoided. For more information on herbal medicine and how it may help you, contact our office.

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