Practice & Dispensary
Herbal Medicine
Herbs and plants were our first medicines and food, and predate recorded history. They have been used traditionally by all societies and cultures. Herbal medicine, or ‘phytotherapy’ is the oldest and still the most widely used system of medicine in the world today. The World Health Organization estimate that 80% of the world’s population use medicinal plant preparations for their primary health care needs. Herbal medicine is increasingly being validated by scientific investigation. Modern science seeks to understand the active chemistry of medicinal herbs, and to confirm their safety and efficacy by clinical trials. Many modern pharmaceuticals have been modelled on or derived from chemicals found in plants. An example is the heart medication digoxin, derived from foxglove (Digitalis purpurea). Using plants as medicine provides significant advantages for treating many conditions. The therapeutic activity of a plant is due to its complex chemical nature with different parts of the plant providing certain therapeutic effects. Herbal medicine involves the use of any or all of the different parts of plants to treat illnesses and maintain health. Medicines are given to improve the body’s natural functions and to restore a natural balance of health. Herbal medicines can be given in many forms, such as liquids, infusions, tablets, creams and ointments.
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