Herbal Medicine

What is Herbal Medicine?

Herbal medicine is a modality of non-invasive healing of human body  using plants in an appropriate preparation. Herbal medicine is effective  and completely safe when used in their whole and natural state. A herbalist  uses natural herbal preparations to assist the body to heal, cleanse  and empower itself. Today’s  herbal medicine is a science and herbs can be classified according to  their energetic qualities and their photochemical constituents. Pharmacology  is a study of the interactions of biologically active constituent within  the living system. Plants consist of a wide rage of combinations of  active constituents just to mention only few such as: polysaccharides,  phenols, glycosides, mucilages, flavonoids, tannins, resins, saponnins,  alkaloids, salicins and polyssacharides. The  healing power of herbs is very diverse. Any plant can be broken down  into some of the above mentioned complex pharmacological constituents  and because of the perfect combination of active constituents the healing  power of herbs is unlimited. Also, a herb can have several properties  depending on the part used and method of preparation.

How Does Herbal Medicine Work?

Medicinal  plants (herbs) have extremely complex chemical structure, which cannot  be copied by human. Nature has created medicinal plants to maintain  and restore human health. The  combination of active constituents gives medicinal plants many actions  such as: diuretic, chologogue, sedative, purgative, anti-inflammatory,  hypotensive or carminative; just to name only few. One  medicinal plant always has several actions. For instance olive leaf  extract is diuretic, hypotensive, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal  and anti-parasidal. This allows treating several health problems at  the same time using only 4-6 herbs in a formula. Some herbs used in  combination have synergistic effect, which means that their therapeutic  effect is enhanced and is more effective than each individual herb when used along.

I feel passionate about herbal medicine and my herbal dispensary contains over 200 herbal tinctures. Some herbs have a “doctrine of signature” – the location where they grow, the color, the shape or pattern on the flowers which gave human kind in the past an indication of its medicinal properties.

Borage Borrago officinale

Borage is cultivated in gardens not only for its amazing sky blue star-shaped flowers but also for its culinary and medicinal uses. Borage is an excellent  adrenal tonic, expectorant, demulcent, diuretic  anti-inflammatory and increases bile flow. So it is useful in bronchitis, inflammation of kidneys and muscles. It is scheduled in  Australia but it was  widely used traditionally and is  currently used by herbalists in Europe and other continents.

Calendula Calendula officinalis

Calendula it known for its anti- inflammatory properties, antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral  and healing properties. It can be used internally  as infusion, tincture, or externally as cold compress or in cream. Its medicinal use ranges from tissue regeneration, killing bacteria, viruses and fungi, improving varicose veins, stomach ulcers  and  broad range of digestive  and reproductive problems. Its topical skin applications are mostly known to the majority of people.

  Elderflower  Sambucus nigra

Both the flowers, leaves , bark  and the berries have medicinal properties. The flowers are diuretic, anti-inflammatory and  stimulating  sweating, while berries are laxative, anti-inflammatory and diuretic. Elderflower is an  excellent  herb in cold and flu, sinusitis or  lung congestion.  Using berries or bark is not recommended by a lay person.

St John’s Wort Hypericum Perforatum

St John’s wort is such a diverse and a powerful  plant. It is indicated for anxiety, depression, some viral infections, it is analgesic and antiseptic. Its medicinal use has applications in infections of respiratory  and  gastrointestinal  tract  and in nervous system conditions  There are contraindications   of St John’ wort with some medication so never get  St John wort over the counter  and   tell  your naturopath /herbalist what medication are  you on.

Peony Paeonia lactiflora

The  medicinal parts used is the root of Peony. It is herb for female reproductive system, analgesic, stress related conditions. Peony was a highly  regarded herb  and garden ornamental in Tang dynasty in China and considered woman’s remedy.