| Herbal medicine is arguably the oldest form of | | | | these modified forms of medications. |
| medicine and has been used by man for millennia. | | | | This begs the question, why try to fix something, when |
| Herbal medicine is the use of plant materials to | | | | it’s not broken? Herbal medicine is working as well |
| enhance well being and treat disease. Today, people all | | | | today as it has for hundreds of years and with |
| over the world are still using herbal remedies, which | | | | respect to side-effects, herbal medicine causes far |
| have been past down through the generations, which | | | | fewer adverse reactions and related health problems |
| increasingly, scientific research is validating. | | | | than their synthetic counterparts. In addition, herbal |
| Herbs are used as medicines for both man and beast, | | | | medicines are more easily tolerated because the |
| they are used to flavour food, enhance taste and are | | | | constituents are not of a synthetic type, which are |
| common ingredients in natural skin care products, | | | | known to have potential long term, and sometimes |
| soaps, potpourris, ointments, food and many other | | | | irreversible side effects. |
| areas of human life. They have even found their way | | | | This is not to say that taking any old herb is safe, far |
| into remedies for our pets and livestock. | | | | from it. Herbal medicines need to be treated with great |
| Up until about 200 years ago, before western medicine | | | | respect and due diligence, as they too can cause harm |
| was conceived of, herbal remedies where the only | | | | if not used appropriately. However, herbal medicines in |
| medicine available to man for treatment of illnesses | | | | general do not pose the same risks of side-effects or |
| and diseases. The Chinese and Egyptians developed | | | | adverse reactions as their synthetic counterparts. The |
| traditional systems of medicine (Traditional Chinese | | | | human metabolism is designed to metabolise naturally |
| Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine, respectively) which | | | | occurring substances, and is not always able to |
| incorporate a systematic approach to the diagnosis | | | | metabolise synthetic drugs fully, potentially causing a |
| and treatment of disease. | | | | myriad of health problems and occasionally deadly |
| Since the early 19th century, methods of chemical | | | | side-effects. |
| analysis became more sophisticated and chemists | | | | Choosing a good, qualified medical herbalist can |
| began making their own synthetic versions of the | | | | present a challenge, as this profession is not well |
| ingredients originally found in herbs, beginning the | | | | regulated in many countries. It is important therefore to |
| transition from raw herbs to synthetic pharmaceuticals. | | | | make sure that the herbalist you seek is a member of |
| Today, pharmaceutical companies are still heavily | | | | a professional association. In Australia there are |
| researching herbs/plants for ‘new medicines’ | | | | several associations such as ANTA, ATMS, and |
| that may prove useful in treating many of today’s | | | | others. Europe, Canada and the US also have |
| diseases, for which orthodox medicine has little or no | | | | professional associations that will be able to help in |
| answers. | | | | finding a qualified, reputable medical herbalist. |
| Since the advent of drug manufacture, users of | | | | It is important to take time and care in choosing the |
| pharmaceutical drugs have increasingly experienced | | | | right herbalist - your health and wellbeing depends on it. |
| more and more side-effects as well as resistance to | | | | |