Herbal medicine is the practice of using plant remedies in therapeutic doses for the maintenance of optimal health, and in the treatment and prevention of disease.
WHAT IS HERBAL MEDICINE?
Herbal medicine is the practice of using plant remedies in therapeutic doses for the maintenance of optimal health, and in the treatment and prevention of disease. Whole plant parts are taken either internally in forms such as teas, tinctures and tablets, or applied externally in forms such as ointments, lotions and gels. An individual plant preparation may be prescribed (e.g. milk thistle for liver disease) or perhaps more commonly a formula (or herbal mix) that is tailored to the individual patient by the herbalist.
There are important similarities and differences between herbal medicine and conventional pharmaceutical-based medicine. Many of our pharmaceutical drugs still come from plant sources such as morphine. Pharmaceutical drugs however, generally contain a single refined chemical that is either synthesised in a laboratory or extracted from plants whereas herbal remedies contain hundreds of compounds that are found in whole plant parts. Plant compounds include well known nutrients like vitamins and essential fatty acids, however they also contain beneficial compounds such as antioxidants, antimicrobials or anti-inflammatories. Furthermore some plant compounds have actions for which we have no equivalent in conventional medicine such as tonics or detoxifiers. The term ‘synergy’ is used to describe the way many of these compounds work together to have an overall action more effective than the individual components. Our knowledge of herbs is based on hundreds or even thousands of years of traditional use, combined with new research and discoveries. Herbs used today have been carefully selected for their known safety and efficacy, and the available information base is continually updated.
WHY CHOOSE HERBAL MEDICINE?
Herbal medicine has evolved over millenia with human culture, however in the 20th century we saw a decline in the use of herbs particularly in many industrialised countries as new pharmaceuticals were synthesised such as antibiotics and steroids. In recent decades the limitations of many of these wonder-drugs have started to be realised with the emergence of super bugs like MRSA and the proliferation of diseases related to diet, lifestyle and environmental pollutants seen commonly in highly developed countries. With the ongoing risks of side effects or adverse reactions with pharmaceuticals and concerns about pollution of our ecosystems with synthetic chemicals, many people are looking again to more natural means of healthcare. Thankfully the wisdom of thousands of years of traditional use of plants as medicines has been preserved and a rejuvenation of the use of whole plant remedies is flourishing once again with new research and discoveries.
Although often referred to as rỗngAlternativerỗng medicine we prefer to use the term ‘Integratedrỗng medicine to describe the practice of embracing herbalism alongside other healthcare modalities to provide the optimal healthcare tailored to the individual patient. Integrative medicine may also include the use of other therapies such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy and physiotherapy.
Herbal remedies are often sought when conventional medicine is not providing satisfactory relief from disease or symptoms, or where there is no conventional treatment option available. Typically conditions that fall into this category are those where the normal processes of the body are malfunctioning such as in autoimmune, inflammatory and degenerative diseases. Therapy may be targeted with the following aims: restoring optimal function of the immune system and organs; movement and elimination of waste products; providing protection and resistance to further damage. Herbal medicine offers opportunities for supportive and preventative treatments for which there is no conventional equivalent.
HERBAL? HOLISTIC? HOMEOPATHY? CONFUSED?
Herbal
The terms ‘herbal medicine’, ‘botanical medicine’ or ‘phytotherapy’ all refer to the use of whole plant part preparations at therapeutic doses in the maintenance of optimal health, and in treatment and prevention of disease.
Holistic
The term ‘holistic’ in veterinary medicine refers to the treatment of the patient as a whole animal, rather than treating the disease or the symptoms alone. This means looking at all aspects of the animal’s life including their diet, lifestyle and emotional wellbeing and investigating the underlying causes of the presenting problem. Most herbalists would consider themselves holistic practitioners.
Homeopathy
rỗngHomeopathyrỗng is a very different approach to treatment of disease, although some veterinary surgeons may practice both herbal medicine and homeopathy. Homeopathy, as defined by the British Association of Homeopathic Veterinary Surgeons, is "the treatment of disease with a substance that is able to provoke similar signs/symptoms in a healthy body. Homeopathic medicines do not interfere with the bodyrỗngs function, nor have a direct pharmacological effect. The bodyrỗngs reaction to the medicine is what brings about the curative process."
According to herbalvet