When Herbal Medicine Works

When you are asked to comment on Herbal Medicine, what do you talk about first? Which fields of Herbal Medicine are important, which disciplines are essential, and which ones can you take safely or leave well alone? You be the judge.

The more reliable your knowlege and information about Herbal Medicine, the more likely people are to consider you not just "knowledgable" about Herbal Medicine, but an expert - or maybe just someone to turn to when they need help? Explore further on for even more Herbal Medicine facts that you can share with family and friends.

Herbal medicine is the oldest form of health care known to man, and is also sometimes called botanical medicine or herbalism. Herbal medicine began with early primitive cultures using different plants for shelter, clothing, and just to feel better. Herbal medicine is often termed a complementary therapy that uses plants or plant extracts to treat illness, and is an important part of keeping healthy holistically and naturally. The World Health Organization (WHO) not only estimates that as many as 4 billion people, but also states that 80 percent of the world's population presently use herbal medicine (for some aspects of primary health care).

A short History of Herbs

Historians know that every race of people, including many ancient cultures dating back thousands of years, used herbs. Medicinal herbs were found in the personal effects of an early "Ice man" whose body was frozen in the Swiss Alps for more than 5,000 years. They appear to have been used to treat the parasites found in his intestines. In one record which dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who described well-established medicinal uses for such plants as laurel, caraway, and thyme. The continuing importance of herbs for the centuries following the Middle Ages is indicated by the hundreds of pages of information on herbs published after the invention of printing in the fifteenth century.

Herbs - The Best Way to Use?

Herbs can be prepared in a variety of forms depending on their purpose. They have been used in all cultures throughout history to restore balance by nourishing the body and have provided humankind with medicine from the earliest beginnings of civilization. Herbs contain a large number of naturally occurring chemicals that have biological activity. They help the body strengthen its own resistance to infective organisms and throw off illness. Herbs can act on the body as powerfully as pharmaceutical drugs and should be treated with the same caution and respect.

Herbs can also have undesirable side effects just as pharmaceutical products can. Herbs may be harmful if taken for the wrong conditions, used in excessive amounts, combined with prescription drugs or alcohol, or used by persons who don't know what they are doing. Most herbal traditions have accumulated knowledge without modern scientific controls to distinguish between the placebo effect, the body's natural ability to heal itself, and the actual benefits of the herbs themselves.

Who Needs Herbs?

To use an herbal product as safely as possible consult your doctor or a trained herbalist before you begin. Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends. Take it under the guidance of someone trained in and experienced with herbal use. Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or nursing.

While herbal medicine is older than any other type of medical health care, it continues to influence the medicines of today. Herbal medicine has proven to be a massive benefit to mankind and has never been more popular than it is today.

You can improve your own health and well being as you begin to herbal medicines confidently and effectively.

You can't predict when knowing something extra about Herbal Medicine will come in handy. If you learned anything new about Herbal Medicine in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.