What is herbal medicine?
Herbal medicine, also called botanical medicine or
phytomedicine, refers to the use of any plant's seeds, berries,
roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Long
practiced outside of conventional medicine, herbalism is
becoming more mainstream as up-to-date analysis and research
show their value in the treatment and prevention of disease.
What is the history of herbal medicine?
Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before
recorded history. For example, ancient Chinese and Egyptian
papyrus writings describe medicinal plant uses. Indigenous
cultures (e.g., African and Native American) used herbs in their
healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical
systems (e.g., Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in
which herbal therapies were used systematically. Scientists
found that people is different parts of the globe tended to use
the same or similar plants for the same purposes.
In the early 19th century, when methods of chemical analysis
first became available, scientists began extracting and
modifying the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists
began making their own version of plant compounds, beginning the
transition from raw herbs to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Over
time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favor of
pharmaceuticals.
Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of
people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of
their primary healthcare. In the last twenty years in the United
States, increasing public dissatisfaction with the cost of
prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning
to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in the
use of herbal medicines. In Germany, roughly 600 to 700
plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by
approximately 70% of German physicians.
How do herbs work?
For most herbs, the specific ingredient that causes a
therapeutic effect is not known. Whole herbs contain many
ingredients, and it is likely that they work together to produce
the desired medicinal effect. Many factors affect how effective
an herb will be. For example, the type of environment (climate,
bugs, soil quality) in which a plant grew will affect its
components, as will how and when it was harvested and processed.
How are herbs used?
For the reasons described in the previous section, herbalists
prefer using whole plants rather than extracting single
components from them. Whole plant extracts have many components.
These components work together to produce therapeutic effects
and also to lessen the chances of side effects from any one
component. Several herbs are often used together to enhance
effectiveness and synergistic actions and to reduce toxicity.
Herbalists must take many things into account when prescribing
herbs. For example, the species and variety of the plant, the
plant's habitat, how it was stored and processed, and whether or
not there are contaminants.
What happens during a visit to an herbalist?
When you visit an herbalist, the treatment goals are often
more broad than stopping a single complaint. Herbalists aim to
correct imbalances, resolve patterns of dysfunction, and treat
the underlying cause of your complaint. Specific symptoms may
also be treated if necessary.
A session with an herbalist typically lasts one hour. You may
be physically examined and asked about your medical history and
your general well-being (that is, how well you sleep, what you
eat, if you have a good appetite, good digestion and
elimination, how often you exercise, and what you do to relax).
The herbalist might recommend one or more herbs, dietary
changes, and lifestyle modifications. Because herbal medicines
are slower acting than pharmaceuticals, you might be asked to
return for a follow-up in two to four weeks.
What is herbal medicine good for?
Herbalists treat many conditions such as asthma, eczema,
premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine,
menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel
syndrome, among others. Herbal preparations are best taken under
the guidance of a trained professional. Be sure to consult with
your doctor or an herbalist before self-treating. Some common
herbs and their uses are discussed below. Please see our
monographs on individual herbs for detailed descriptions of uses
as well as risks, side effects, and potential interactions.
Who is using herbal medicine?
Nearly one-third of Americans use herbs and it is estimated
that in 1998 alone $4 billion was spent on herbal products in
this country. Unfortunately, a recent study in the New
England Journal of Medicine indicated that nearly 70% of
individuals taking herbal medicines (the majority of which were
well educated and had a higher-than-average income) were
reluctant to reveal their use of complementary and alternative
medicine to their doctors. Because herbal medicines contain a
combination of chemicals, each with a specific action, many are
capable of eliciting complex physiological responses—some of
which may create unwanted or unexpected results when combined
with conventional drugs. Be sure to consult your doctor before
trying any herbal products.
How is herbal medicine sold in stores?
The herbs available in most stores come in several different
forms: teas, syrups, oils, liquid extracts, tinctures, and dry
extracts (pills or capsules). Teas are simply dried herbs left
to soak for a few minutes in boiling water. Syrups, made from
concentrated extracts and added to sweet-tasting preparations,
are frequently used for sore throats and coughs. Oils are
extracted from plants and often used as rubs for massage, either
alone or as part of an ointment or cream. Tinctures and liquid
extracts are solvents (usually water, alcohol, or glycerol) that
contain the active ingredients of the herbs. Tinctures are
typically a 1:5 or 1:10 concentration, meaning that one part of
the herbal material is prepared with five to ten parts (by
weight) of the liquid. Liquid extracts are more concentrated
than tinctures and are typically a 1:1 concentration. A dry
extract form is the most concentrated form of an herbal product
(typically 2:1 to 8:1) and is sold as a tablet, capsule, or
lozenge.
Currently, no organization or government body regulates the
manufacture or certifies the labeling of herbal preparations.
This means you can't be sure that the amount of the herb
contained in the bottle, or even from dose to dose, is the same
as what is stated on the label. Some herbal preparations are
standardized, meaning that the preparation is guaranteed to
contain a specific amount of the active ingredients of the herb.
However, it is still important to ask companies that are making
standardized herbal products the basis for their product's
guarantee. If consumers insist on an answer to this question,
manufacturers of these herbal products may begin to implement
more quality control processes, like microscopic, chemical, and
biological analyses. Again, it is important to consult your
doctor or an expert in herbal medicine for the recommended doses
of any herbal products you are considering.
Are there experts in herbal medicine?
Herbalists, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, and
practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine all use herbs to
treat illness. Naturopathic physicians believe that the body is
continually striving for balance and that natural therapies can
be used to support this process. They are trained in four-year,
postgraduate institutions that combine courses in conventional
medical science (such as pathology, microbiology, pharmacology,
and surgery) with clinical training in herbal medicine,
homeopathy, nutrition, and lifestyle counseling.
How can I find a qualified herbalist in my area?
For additional information, or to locate an experienced
herbalist in your area, contact the American Herbalists Guild (AHG)
at P.O. Box 70, Roosevelt, UT 84066 (435-722-8434) or visit
their web site at http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/.
To locate a licensed naturopath in your area, contact the
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) at 601
Valley Street, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98109 (206-298-0126) or
visit their web site at www.naturopathic.org.
What is the future of herbal medicine?
Although a renaissance is occurring in herbal medicine in the
United States, the FDA still classifies herbs as dietary
supplements and forbids manufacturers to claim that their
products are able to treat or prevent specific diseases. In some
countries in Europe, however, herbs are classified as drugs and
are regulated. The German Commission E, an expert medical panel,
actively researches their safety and effectiveness.
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