Herbal Medicine

Herbalism, also known as phytotherapy, has been around since... well since man really. There is some interpretive evidence that Neanderthals living 60,000 years ago in present-day Iraq used plants for medicinal purposes. Whether that is true or not is hardly a problem. For the last few thousand years, the use of herbs and plants as medicines has been well documented.

The use of and search for drugs and dietary supplements derived from plants have accelerated in recent years. Pharmacologists, microbiologists, botanists, and natural-products chemists are combing the Earth for phytochemicals and leads that could be developed for treatment of various diseases. In fact, many modern drugs have been derived from plants. Some examples are inulin from the roots of dahlias, quinine from the cinchona, aspirin from willow bark, and digoxin from the foxglove.

As of 2004, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine started to fund clinical trials into the effectiveness of herbal medicine.

So what is the difference, if any, between using willow bark to cure a headache, or ginseng to bring back up the energy of our body, and eating a few bell peppers to enrich our supply of vitamin C, or using Ginseng as a flavor for a soft drink? Why is one considered a dietary, or culinary act, while the other considered rather risky hedge-doctoring?

When preparing herbs for use, in teas or extracts, the amount (dosage) of the plant used is often rather large. Because we are preparing sections of the plant (such as the leaves, or roots) we are not only getting the parts we want, but also many parts we often don't want, parts which cause side-effects or adverse conditions. Taken in large enough dosages, or concentrations, these plants, like anything else can cause as much harms as good.

Reliable knowledge on the full effect that a particular herb or plant can have on us (not just the good parts) is often difficult to come by. When I first started out in the use of herbs and tonics I discovered this for myself in the preparation of several herbs which were fine by themselves, taken in moderate amounts, but were a very strong diuretic when prepared together (trust me, it wasn't funny then).

While I personally advocate the learning of plants and herbs as a source of medicine I also advocate more than the layman's knowledge of the herbs before preparation and ingestion. Checking for the latest study results and news items should be done on a regular basis.

With the tools we have now on the Internet this is much more simple than it was in days past. For example, going to the Google News page you can search for news items regarding herbs, such as ginseng. After making such a search there is a function on the page which allows you to receive emails when new news stories are published on the same topic. This is a great time saving device, which will keep you up-to-date. There are also several websites you can go to for researching the effects and properties of herbs and plants as medicines. I will list some of these at the bottom of this article.

Some problems with herbal preparations occur from quality and consistency of the prepared doses. Consistency is the key to any medical preparation and deviations in the steps of preparation or in the quality of the plant you start with can lead to surprising results (just in case it is not obvious, 'surprising' is not a good term in a medical setting).

Preparing Herbs for medical use

There are several ways to prepare herbs and other plants for medical use. Some are better than others because of the plants you are using or the ailment you are attempting to treat. The following is a list of some of these preparations and some comments on their nature.

Compress

Soak a cloth in a cool herb solution, and then apply directly to the injured area.

Decoction

Make a tea from the root, seed, berry, or bark of the herb plant. Simmer the tea, do not boil.

Essential Oils

Oils are distilled from plants or by cold extraction. Usually they are mixed with vegetable oil or water and used as an inhalant, douche, or tea. Also, they may be used as eyewash, ear wash, mouthwash, or used externally for massage, and to treat cuts and abrasions. Essential oils easily and readily combine with the natural fats and oils of the skin.

Extracts

Place the herbs in a solvent and soak, allowing the solution to evaporate. This solution is the most effective form of using herbs when severely or acutely ill.

Herb Vinegars

Put herb in raw apple cider vinegar, rice or malt and left to stand for two or more weeks.

Infusion

The tender parts of the plant (leaf or flower for example) is steeped (not boiled) for five minutes in hot water, thus the benefits of the herb is not destroyed.

Ointment

A powdered form of an herb added to a salve.

Poultice

A hot, moist, soft mass of herbs, flour, mustard, and other substances is spread on muslin or cloth and applied for one to eight hours on a sore or inflamed area of the body to relieve pain and inflammation. Ground or granulated herbs are best. The cloth or muslin should be changed when cooled.

Powder

The useful part of an herb is ground into a powder and is also used in capsule or tablet form. Capsules and tablets are generally used for certain disorders and should be used no longer than six months at a time.

Syrup

An herb or herbs are added to a form of sugar and then boiled.

Salves

Salves, oils, creams and lotions are generally used on sores, bruises, and inflammations (such as for poultices).

Tincture

Usually, most tinctures contain about 20-50% alcohol. Powdered herbs are added to a water/alcohol solution. Tinctures keep for a long period of time and should only be used if severely ill.

Tea

To prepare herb tea, use approximately one to three teaspoons of herbs per cup of boiling water. Boil water in a kettle as you would for other teas but do not use an aluminum kettle. Pour water into a mug or pot, leave herbs to steep for at least five minutes, but don't leave for longer than ten minutes or the tea will be bitter. For stronger tea, use more herb rather than steeping the tea for a longer time. Store herb tea in amber colored jars, never in clear glass jars. The potency of many herbs are destroyed by light. Mild teas may be used daily as tonics and for general health and well-being. Strong but beneficial herbs may be taken in teas with less problems.

Other sources of Information

Website of the National Herbalists Association of Australia

Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

University of Maryland

Southwest School of Botanical Medicine

Natural Products Discussion Group

Posted by Glenn Hefley in Example -- Health, Glenn's Work