Herbalism

Strictly, "herbaceous" plants lack a woody stem and die down at the end of the growing season, or forever - if the plant is an annual. However, "Herbalism" cannot adequately be defined in terms of a specific botanical group of plants that is used for medicinal purposes.

"Herbal" treatments and supplements may involve the use of a wide range of other sources (e.g. lichens, fungi, roots, vegetables, etc) which are outside what may formally be defined as "herbs". Hence, herbalism is better considered more loosely, but probably more accurately, in terms of plants and other naturally occurring growing species that are useful to man.

Medicinal Uses of Herbalism

Herbalists' specialist knowledge of the properties of plants may include:

	Which part(s) of the plant(s) to use. Different parts (root, bark, leaf, fruit, flower) have different properties.
	The dosage that should be given.
	For how long, and in what quantities the remedy should be administered.
	The form in which the preparation should be administered ( e.g. orally, as creams/poultices).

These may include complex issues to be considered with respect to the individual recipient and his/her condition.
A combination of plant species may be used - requiring specialist knowledge to select and formulate. The use of a single plant species is known as a "simple".

The appropriate herbs, prepared and administered correctly may help with a wide range of problems.

History of Herbalism:

In the early stages of human history many aspects of life such as diet, clothing, and broader cultural development utilized increasing knowledge of plants, wild fruits, trees, and flora generally.
The use of plants for medicinal purposes was recognised in India over 2000 years ago. There are also ancient Chinese records of the use of herbal remedies. The Greek historian 'Pliny the Elder' stated that the Greeks produced both written and pictorial records of herbal treatments as early as the 1st Century BC. The Byzantines (in modern day Turkey) produced similar records in c. 500 AD.
From the Middle Ages (ca 1100-1450) onwards numerous European scholars documented and illustrated a wide variety of plants together with accounts of their medical benefits.
Knowledge of the uses and effects of plants grew rapidly. Awareness of their remedial properties for a variety of health conditions, of their hallucinatory properties, of their soporific and stimulating effects, and so on, encouraged the emergence of professional "experts" and a widespread interest that has continued to the present day.

During the centuries of global exploration, colonial expansion, increasing trade, and improved communications (C16th - C19th), numerous "new" plants were added to those known in Europe.

More recently, the dominance of urban/industrial society (especially in Europe and North America) of the last two hundred years - together with increasing knowledge in a range of scientific areas - coincided with increased questioning of, and scepticism about, traditional remedies such as form the basis of Herbalism.
Availability of the chemical and synthetic products of modern pharmacy has also contributed to obscuring the importance and contributions of herbal treatments.

At present herbal remedies increasingly available through conventional channels such as dispensing chemists (referred to as "pharmacies" or "drugstores" in the USA). This is part of a general trend of increasing interest in, and 'respectability' of, "natural" approaches to health and wellness. Herbal remedies are increasingly considered to be ecologically friendly and a potential source of health care that may be free of the undesirable side-effects associated with chemically-constructed synthetic products.

What does a Herbalist Consultation / Treatment involve? :

As with all medicines, there are circumstances in which specific herbal preparations should not be used (that is, are "contraindicated") for particular individuals. Also as with other substances, some herbal preparations can cause allergic reactions in some people. Herbalists take these, and other considerations, into account when recommending remedies for individuals.

Further Information about Herbalism :

General Information is available from the below:
	National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK): www.nimh.org.uk
	National Herbalists Association of Australia: www.nhaa.org.au
	New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists: nzamh.org.nz