Herbal medicine is used to assist the body in its natural attempt to heal itself.Herbs stimulate the body’s own healing powers and many have an affinity with a particular organ or system.Working holistically with the whole body, as well as with diet and lifestyle, herbal medicine can bring a person back to a level of optimum health.While orthodox medicine treats each disease in isolation an herbalist recognises that the body systems are integrated and so uses a holistic approach to treat the underlyingcause of a disease.Orthodox medicine has its place too and herbal medicine can be a natural complement to it.For example, herbs can promote healing and vitality in a patient following cancer treatment or surgery.Herbal medicine can also be a useful adjunct to other complementary therapies and is therefore sometimes used alongside homoeopathy, acupuncture or psychotherapy, and treatments such as sports massage, osteopathy or chiropractic for musculoskeletal injuries.
A revival of old wisdom
Herbal medicine is currently undergoing a renaissance.The precise reasons for this are unclear but results of surveys documented in the House of Lords Select Committee 6th Report on Science and Technology (2000), indicate that people are becoming more aware of health issues and many want to feel that they are in control of their own health. Some aredisillusioned with conventional medicine.For example, there is widespread concern regarding side-effects of drugs; and the waning efficacy of antibiotics with the resultant risks of MRSA and other ‘superbugs’. Another problem is that time constraints often necessitate the patient’s presenting problem only being considered. An herbal practitioner spends a lot more time with the consultation and will look at related and underlying problems in order to treat a patient holistically.A common reason for someone visiting an herbalist is that conventional medicine has been unable to cure their chronic illness.Whatever the reason for this revival of old wisdom, there is empirical evidence of its efficacy and safety over thousands of years.Herbal medicine is here to stay and is the perfect complement to orthodox medicine, which undoubtedly has life-saving potential.
Herbal medicine is currently undergoing a renaissance.
