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Herbal medicine explained

Ancient civilisations from China to the Americas relied on medicinal herbs, but the writings of Roman, Greek and Arab physicians formed the basis for Western medical herbalism, developed by 16th century practitioners Paracelsus, John Gerard and Nicholas Culpeper.

Herbalists make use of the whole plant in their remedies, rather than isolating one component as modern pharmaceuticals do. They believe that all the components work as a whole, creating a greater therapeutic power together than one substance on its own. Moreover, when the active agent is extracted and used by itself, it can have side effects that would be offset by other substances in the plant.

For example, the herb meadowsweet is used to treat fevers, rheumatic conditions and infections. It contains salicylic acid, which in isolation in the drug aspirin can cause internal bleeding in people with sensitive stomachs. But meadowsweet also contains tannin and mucilage, natural protectors and healers of the stomach lining, and is even prescribed for digestive disorders.

Creating cures
Medical herbalists prepare remedies in dispensaries, tailored to individual patients. Thanks to modern mass production methods and standardisation techniques that ensure a certain level of active ingredients, over the counter herbal products are widely available as tablets, capsules, tinctures, oils, creams, ointments and teas. This means people can self-treat for minor complaints, provided they follow instructions and choose products from reputable suppliers, but they should remember that herbal remedies often take longer to work than conventional drugs.

How does it work?
Herbalism matches specific treatments to particular diseases, but like all traditional systems, it seeks to restore what is called 'vital force' and stimulate the body's self-healing processes. A medical herbalist will not just hand you a cream for a rash, for instance, but will try to uncover the source of the problem, which may be poor diet, an unhealthy lifestyle or excessive stress. These destabilising factors can disrupt the body's natural state of harmony, known as homeostasis.

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