About Herbalism
What Is Herbal Medicine?
Herbal medicine is a system of healing that uses medicinal plants and natural protocols to prevent or treat disease, and to maintain optimal health and well-being. Every culture of every era has, until recently, depended on plants for healing. Even today, herbal medicine is the primary healing modality for much of the world’s population.
A Philosophy of Healing
Herbalists practice with a holistic philosophy of healing: the whole person and their life experience is considered in planning a treatment protocol. Similar symptoms may have many different causes, and each person is unique. A registered herbalist is trained to assess the multiple facets of a condition and underlying causes, and to craft appropriate botanical formulas to meet the individual’s need. (For more details, please see The Essence of Herbal Medicine).
Who can benefit from Herbal Medicine?
Herbal medicine is a system of healing that uses medicinal plants and natural protocols to prevent or treat disease, and to maintain optimal health and well-being. Every culture of every era has, until recently, depended on plants for healing. Even today, herbal medicine is the primary healing modality for much of the world’s population.
Are Herbs Safe?
People have always co-existed with the plant kingdom. Our bodies have evolved the ability to extract and use the healing properties of plants, and have mechanisms for eliminating many potentially harmful substances. The safety of herbs has been demonstrated throughout history and by the wide availability of herbal products in recent years. Despite the fact that most people self-medicate with herbs, significant negative reactions are rare.
Are Herbs Effective?
A registered herbalist’s knowledge of their medicine comes from empirical wisdom gathered over centuries of practice, interwoven with modern scientific understanding and accomplishments. Harvested, prepared, and compounded in accordance with time-tested, traditional principles, herbal medicine is a powerful healing agent, often achieving strikingly positive results.