Herbalism

In the days before antibiotics and synthetic drugs, the only recourse available to people suffering from any illness or ailment was the local herbalist, the wise man – or, more often, woman – in the village who’d studied the local plant-life and discovered that some were particularly effective against various forms of disease.

Chinese literature has records of herbalism dating back 5000 years. The ancient Greeks were using herbs a medicine as long ago as 1500 BC. Herbs are also an important part of the traditional medical culture in India, the Middle East and America.

It was the Crusaders who brought news of medical herbs to the West during the Middle Ages – and who pointed out that many of these therapeutic plants were, in fact, growing wild in our hedgerows.

Herbalism was popular here until the early 1900s, when interest turned to the huge development of drugs and modern surgical techniques. But the wide use of drugs began to lose favour in the 1960s, following stories of the dangers of overprescribing drugs like antibiotics.

Herbal preparations are now sold at most chemists and some supermarkets. They’re available as teas, tinctures and dried herbs made into pills. It’s important, however, to find products which contain a standardised amount of the herb. This means you’ll be getting the same proportion of the active ingredient in each pill.

It’s also essential to realise that, as with any medication, some herbal preparations can cause side effects in some people. To be on the safe side, always check with your doctor if you have any underlying medical condition – and if you are, or think you might be, pregnant.

You can also have herbal preparations made specifically for you by a medical herbalist. To find a qualified practitioner in your area, contact:

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL HERBALISTS
9 PALACE GATE
EXETER
DEVON EX1 1JA
TEL: +44 (0)1392 426022
WEB: www.nimh.org.uk

SCHOOL OF HERBAL MEDICINE AND PHYTOTHERAPY
BUCKSTEEP MANOR
BODLE STREET GREEN
HALSHAM
SUSSEX BN27 4JR
TEL: +44 (0)1323 834800
WEB: www.collegeofphytotherapy.com

COLLEGE OF INTEGRATED CHINESE MEDICINE
19 CASTKE STEET
READING
BERKS RG1 7SSB
TEL: +44 (0)18 950 8880
WEB: www.cicm.org.uk

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.