Herbalism is the earliest form of medicine and is the study and use of plants for medicinal purposes.
It has been recorded that in the early biblical days, the Hebrews used mandrake root which was widely known as a painkiller and they used a variety of other herbs to flavour foods. Thyme, mint, sage, rosemary, hyssop, coriander, marjoram and cumin all grew in the Middle East. The description and instructions of medicinal uses of herbs was first documented in Egypt around 2000 B.C. The ancient Egyptians imported herbs like opium, thyme and saffron from India, the herbs were in great demand for medicines, food, perfumes, disinfectants, dyes and cosmetics.
It is evidenced in the medical writings of Hippocrates “The Father of Medicine” that the first physicians were all herbalists, by the descriptive properties of herbs and the explanations on how they were used in the easing of pain and the curing of diseases. His valuable teachings and methods of practice set the pattern for modern medicine. Dioscorides a Greek physician listed the medicinal properties of approximately 600 herbs and plants in his comprehensive 5 volumes of work called 'De Materia Medica'.
In Imperial Rome a century after Hippocrates, Galen wrote many medical books that contained his recommended treatments that were made from herbs. Where ever the Romans travelled they took herb seeds to cultivate and use. Many great monasteries had “physick” gardens which contained herbs left by the Roman’s, the monks cultivated the herbs to produce medicines.
Advanced scientific knowledge was made during the twentieth century when scientists were able to isolate the chemical substance of a plant and to synthesize its properties. An instant medicine became available and accurate doses of the drug could be administered.
In the last thirty years there has been a dramatic interest in the use of herbs and 80% of the world’s population still use herbal medicine. Herbal practitioners today benefit from the combination of Western and Eastern accumulated traditional wisdom and modern scientific research.
Description and benefits of Herbalism
Some herbs and substances derived from the plants still remain the basis for a large proportion of the commercial medications used today for the treatment of heart disease, high blood pressure, pain, asthma, and other problems. For example, ephedra is an herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than two thousand years to treat asthma and other respiratory problems. Ephedrine, the active ingredient in ephedra, is used in the commercial pharmaceutical preparations for the relief of asthma symptoms and other respiratory problems.
Herbs are composed of complex constituents that work together, balancing and complementing one another. Every herb used has known actions and qualities with affinities to one or more body systems or organs. The practitioner is trained to know these qualities and prescribes the herbs accordingly. They follow a holistic approach and seek to identify and treat the underlying cause of a condition rather than just the symptoms.
Herbal remedies can also be used alongside conventional medicines provided the practitioner knows what is being taken, to avoid possible interactions. They also provide effective, safe and economical alternatives to conventional medicines to treat a wide range of minor aliments. Treatments are given internally or externally in various ways, they can be made into teas, alcohol-based tinctures, capsules, creams and ointments. Herbs are mixed together as a formula to produce a balanced and more powerful effect. A herbalist may choose to prescribe a tried and tested formula or mix a new one to suit your individual requirements.
Many illnesses can benefit from herbal treatments including:
- Fevers, Flu, Common Colds and Irritant Coughs.
- Nose and Throat problems: Tonsillitis, Laryngitis, Sore Throats, Catarrh, Sinusitis and Mouth Ulcers.
- Ear problems: Earache and Chronic Ear infections.
- Eye problems: Conjunctivitis, Eye strain, Tried Eyes and Styes.
- Skin problems: Eczema, Psoriasis, Ringworm, Boils, Acne, Athlete’s foot, Dandruff, Cold Sores and Impetigo.
- Digestive problems: IBS, Constipation, Flatulence, Diarrhoea, Haemorrhoids, Gastritis, Indigestion and Heartburn
- Urinary problems: Cystitis, Urinary stones
- Asthma
- Allergies: Hayfever
- Food intolerance
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Poor Circulation
- High Blood Pressure
- chronic fatigue
- cardiovascular problems
- Iron deficient anaemia
- Migraines
- Neuralgia
- Stress, Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia
- Rheumatism, Osteoarthritis, Cramp, Tennis Elbow and Frozen Shoulder
They can also help with specified illnesses for men and women whether young or old including:
Male problems: Prostate disorders, Urethritis, Infertility, Impotence
Female problems: Period pains, Heavy periods, PMS, infertility, menopause, morning sickness
Babies’s problems: Nappy rash, Colic, sleeplessness, teething
Children’s problems: Hyperactivity, bedwetting, Croup, Nits, Mumps, Chickenpox, Measles, Whooping cough.
Governing bodies of Herbalism
The British Herbal Medicine Association (BHMA)
Association of Master Herbalists (AMH)
European Herbal Practitioners Association (EHPA) - this is an umbrella organisation for professional herbalists in the UK and Europe. (The AMH is a full and active member)
The National Institute of Medical Herbalism (NIMH) The General Council and Register of Consultant Herbalists (IRCH) - is a member of the EHPA
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