An Introduction to Herbal Medicine

“Look deep into Nature, and then you will understand everything better” – Albert Einstein

herbal medicine
n.

1. the art or practice of using herbs and herbal preparations to maintain health and to prevent, alleviate, or cure disease
   
2. a plant or plant part or an extract or mixture of these used in herbal medicine
   

 
Herbal medicine is a holistic system of health care, based on the use of plants or plant extracts taken orally or applied to the skin. Since ancient times, the potent healing properties of herbs have been used by many cultures throughout the world to treat illness. 
 
Herbal Medicine blends traditional knowledge with modern science to provide gentle, non-invasive and effective healing.  Traditional Herbalism focuses on the treating underlying imbalance within the body, rather than treating the symptom alone.  Herbs are used to raise vitality of the patient, enhancing the body’s own ability to fight infection, or to correct an imbalance without the side effects commonly experienced with pharmaceutical medication.  Many pharmaceutical drugs were originally derived from plant constituents.  An example of this is the salicylic acid from the Meadowsweet plant, that was isolated to form Aspirin. 
 
The beauty of Herbal Medicine is that it can be tailored to your individual needs. Herbalists recognise that we are all unique individuals and need to be treated as such.  Herbal Medicine focuses treatment on the person, not the disease.  Herbs can be used to treat all ages and can be used safely alongside pharmaceutical medication, to address a wide variety of medical conditions from acute conditions to chronic disease.  The use of herbs in pregnancy and lactation is safe, under the supervision of a qualified Medical Herbalist.