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Herbal Medicine
Western Herbal Medicine
What is a Medical Herbalist?
Furthering Your Knowledge
Herb Reference ~ English to Latin Name
Herb Reference ~ Latin to English Name
Herbs of the Month
Newsletter
Putting
Your Knowledge to Use
Selected Health Topics
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 Herbal
Medicine
Western Herbal Medicine
Modern science is now confirming
what tradition has known for centuries. Herbs have therapeutic
properties, which can be used in prevention of ill health,
assist in maintaining optimal health and play a valid role
in treatment of dis-ease.
Used by over 80 percent of the world’s population,
herbal medicine is the oldest known form of healing. While
clinical trials should not be considered the only validation
of botanical medicine, double blind placebo controlled studies
can certainly confirm the role of plant for medicine, a healing
modality practiced for centuries. Botanical medicine, when
used correctly, plays an important role in the treatment of
ill health and can be used for both acute and chronic conditions.
Both herbal medicine and allopathic (pharmaceutical) medicine
can play a valid role in our health. Herbs can be used as
the first choice of disease treatment and herbal medicines
consistently have fewer side effects than prescription medication
while supporting the bodies’ capacity to heal itself.
When used under the care of a trained practitioner, the benefits
of botanical medicine are numerous. Herbs can be safely combined
with allopathic medicine to minimize the side effects of prescription
drugs, used to enhance the effect of pharmaceutical medicines,
resulting in a lower dose of medication needed, or can be
used long term to support the bodies’ capacity to restore
its own health. Herbal medicine can be used to wean the body
off potentially addictive medications and can be used as an
alternative to many habit-forming medications.
The quest for knowledge and understanding in the field of
herbal medicine is still growing. There are currently Bachelor
of Science and Master of Science Degree programs in Herbal
Medicine in Universities throughout the world. Medical schools
are adding herbal medicine into their course curriculums,
peer reviewed journals are citing the health benefits of nutrition
and plant medicine and there is an great increase in funding
and research done on botanical medicine.
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