What is Western Herbal Medicine?
Western Herbal Medicine is based on
traditional uses of medicinal plants from many parts of the
world, particularly Europe and North America. Traditional
use is supported in many instances by recent scientific
research. A medical herbalist’s approach is holistic,
aiming to treat the whole person rather than simply address
a set of symptoms. Other health issues such as diet and
lifestyle may therefore also be discussed, and
recommendations made.
How does it work?
Many drugs used in conventional health care
are based on substances isolated and extracted from plants.
Herbalists have found that using the whole plant
is an effective yet gentler approach - which avoids many of
the side effects which can be caused by drugs. Since plants
play such an important part in the human diet, using plant
medicines can be seen as an extension of good diet,
harnessing the substances which occur naturally in plants
and our bodies, to correct imbalances which cause ill
health.