What is Herbal Medicine?
- Herbal medicine seeks out the cause of your disease, illness or discomfort, and treats the cause, rather than the symptoms, thus effecting a real cure, rather than simply controlling the condition (which would necessitate medicine for life).
- Herbs give your body the materials to help it heal itself, which is the only true way to heal.
- Herbal medicine is gentle and gradual, not a quick fix. It has taken your body a long time to develop this condition, so it takes a while to rebalance and recover.
- Herbal medicine is tailor made to suit the individual. There is not a formula for migraine, eczema, or for any other condition. Instead, the herbalist will mix a special blend of herbs to suit the individual patient's needs. Thus 5 different people presenting with apparently the same symptoms will receive entirely different herbal prescriptions.
- Herbal medicine is holistic, in every sense. Every part of your life, past and present, is considered, when searching for the root of the problem, and every part of your body, not just the obviously troubled area. The treatment may include advice on diet, lifestyle, use of products, leisure pursuits, occupation, relationships, rest and relaxation, and many more.
- Herbs enable the body to rebalance itself and achieve again the state of equilibrium whereby homeostasis can occur — that is, the body maintains and heals itself. An everyday example of this is how the body heals a cut in the skin, or even a broken bone, both of which it does without needing medical help, although sometimes the application of a herbal ointment can expedite the process.
- Herbal medicine used in this way can help you regain your health whether you suffer from a minor or a major health problem.
- The herbal medicine will usually be in the form of a bottle of tincture. This is alcohol-based medicine, because alcohol is a good way in which to extract the healing qualities of herbs. The medicine is taken in small doses, diluted in hot water, which causes that alcohol to evaporate. On the rare occasions when alcohol must be avoided altogether, then herbal capsules may be prescribed instead.
- Herbal ointments or creams may also be prescribed, to be applied topically, usually in addition to the mixture to be taken internally — a soothing ointment may seem to help a rash, but is not addressing the cause, which is invariably internal.
- Herbal medicine incorporates and work well alongside other therapeutic means of guiding you back to health, such as nutrition, hydrotherapy, Bach flower therapy, and counselling.
- Herbal medicine is wonderful, but it cannot cure all of the body's ills. There my be times when your herbalist will recommend that you visit another specialist practitioner, such as a chiropractor.