Herbal remedies are natural compounds from the leaves, seeds, flowers, bark, or roots of plants that are used for medicinal purposes.
While some people use herbal remedies as alternative medicine, many others use herbs as complementary medicine.
The use of herbal medicine dates back to ancient times, long before the development of what is now conventional medicine. From the earliest times, human beings have used herbs for their healing and pain-relieving abilities. Over the years, various cultures developed differing traditions and medical practices, for which herbs played a central role.
A burial site excavated in Iraq, dating to about 60,000 years, contained eight different medicinal plants, and their presence in the grave site suggested that they held supernatural significance as well as medicinal value. The 4th-century BCE Greek philosopher, Aristotle, believed that plants had a psyche, and Hinduism holds that many plants are sacred to specific divinities.
Even in Western cultures, similar beliefs weren't unheard of. Indigenous people throughout North America used herbal remedies for healing, and there was a spiritual aspect to it, as well.
A separation of healing and medicine from spirituality began, in some cultures, even prior to the Current Era. For example, Hippocrates (460-377 BCE) did not include ritual ceremonies or magic with the healing arts, and some Chinese medical texts from the 1st Century BCE emphasized rational medicine, although other Chinese healers continued to incorporate spirituality.
Herbal remedies were very much in use among both factions, however. When trade routes between Europe, the Middle East, India, and Asia were established by the 2nd Century BCE, there was a lively trade in both medicinal and culinary herbs.
Today, while there continues to be a gap between traditional folk remedies and modern medicine, several contemporary pharmaceuticals had their roots in traditional herbal remedies, although some of them have been synthesized. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of modern drugs were originally derived from plants. Examples include aspirin, morphine, and quinine,
While there are people in New Age and other contemporary cultures, both religious and secular, who would forego contemporary medicine in favor of herbal remedies, there are many more who incorporate both regimens, finding that traditional herbal remedies can work in tandem with Western medicine.
Changes in public awareness of herbal medicine as a complementary regimen have led to large numbers of people who participate fully in contemporary Western medicine, yet supplement these treatments with various herbal remedies or, perhaps more often, to strengthen and enhance the immune system in the hope of warding off disease. It could be difficult to determine precisely when a healthy diet leaves off and herbal medicine steps in.
Herbal remedies are closely related to holistic medicine, in that the former plays a significant role in the latter. It is reasonable to assume that a wide variety of factors might contribute to the onset of illness, and, while signs and symptoms are the most obvious indicators, the existence of these indicates that the illness is already there. If we are to believe that a good diet can contribute to good health, then it is difficult to deny that herbs could be a part of this diet.
The human body consists of trillions of cells, all of which must function in harmony in order to maintain good health. Herbal practitioners believe that herbs, when used wisely, can work in tune with our bodies, supporting, stimulating, or restraining various sets of cells in their assigned tasks, maintaining a healthy balance within our body systems.
We know that emotions have a role in health, so it's not unreasonable to consider that spirituality may play into it, as well.
Herbal remedies can strengthen an individual's resistance to disease, improve the vitality of weakened tissues, and enhance the ability of the body to return to a state of good health.
In the event that a severe illness is in place, it might be too late for an herbal approach to be successful. In these cases, stronger or quicker-acting pharmaceuticals or medical procedures, such as cardiac medication, antibiotics, or surgery, may be necessary in order to maintain life. When used in this manner, herbal remedies used in conjunction with conventional medicine would be a part of a complementary medical approach.
While many practitioners of conventional medicine eagerly accept the role that herbal medicine can play in the health of an individual, others find it difficult to accept any role that herbal medicine can play, even as they prescribe medications derived from herbs.
Recommended Resources
Since 1998, the website is maintained by Karen Bergeron, the sole editor of the website and Alternative Nature Enterprises. The website features herbal plant descriptions, hundreds of herb photographs, and informational articles on various topics related to herbs, botanical medicine, and alternative medicine. Phone consultations are available, as she may be able to help with research, general herb knowledge, and so on, including links to other online resources. Contacts are available.
https://altnature.com/
Also known as the Herbal Medicine Institute, ABC is an independent, non-profit research and education organization focused on providing accurate information on botanicals to consumers, healthcare practitioners, researchers, educators, industry, and the media. Membership levels and information are highlighted, and a list of sponsor members is provided. Resources include a clinical guide to herbs, a handbook for the identification of medicinal plants, and webinars.
https://abc.herbalgram.org/
Connecting growers with premium cannabis seeds, the site promises stealthy shipments to the United States, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world. Its online catalog includes several varieties of cannabis, including Afghan, African, AK 47 XTRM, Amnesia Trance, AMS, Amsterdam, Aussie Blues, Autoflower, Bianca, Big Black Indica, Big Bud, Blue Dream, Blueberry, Bob Marley, Bonfire, Borderliner, California Dream, California Skunk, Candy Kush, Caramelicious, and many others.
https://amnesiaseeds.com/
Online since 1995, this is an electronic version of "A Modern Herbal" by Maud Grieve, originally published in England in 1931. The site includes an introduction, a recipe index, a plant and herb index, a poisons index, a measures converter, and the Poisons & Antidotes section of "Stedman's Shorter Medical Dictionary," published in 1942. Also included are informational articles by Rita Jacinto, Christina Francine, and Susun Weed. Other herbal books are introduced and may be purchased online.
https://www.botanical.com/
Located in Huntington, Massachusetts, East West courses are designed to teach students about the herbs themselves, as well as how to use them effectively for each individual's unique needs. Included is a Kid's Herb Course for children of all ages, a Home Herbalist Course for beginning students interested in herbal medicine, a Professional Herbalist Course for those interested in an in-depth study, and a Clinical Herbalist Course for those who practice herbs professionally or in a clinic.
https://planetherbs.com/
Based in Rogersville, Missouri, the business' office address, a map, telephone number, and email address are published on the site, which includes an online contact form, and a shopping area focused on herbal products, including capsules (blends or single herbs), herbs and spices, extracts, tinctures, and blends, pure essential oils, EMU oil, teas, Stevia, poly zipper bags, dehydrated foods, accessories, books, and software, which are sorted into product categories, and may be filtered by price.
https://herbaladvantage.com/
Offering herb products based on classic Chinese medicinal herbs used throughout China for more than four thousand years, its products are all-natural and caffeine-free. Available online, its products can be sorted by name, price, date, or popularity. Each is pictured, with a list of potential benefits and other details. Also included are informational articles on a variety of alternative medicine topics, such as acupuncture, foot massage therapy, and how to make herbal remedies and tinctures.
https://www.herbalshop.com/
This online reference guide for popular home remedies and herbal remedies includes an overview of herbal medicine, including a historical perspective, as well as preparing and using herbs. An alphabetically-sorted list of ailments is included, with a description of the condition, antidotes, home remedies, and herbal remedies, including instructions for their use. A separate listing of herbs, also alphabetized, is included, with descriptions, composition, uses, and other details.
https://herbal-home-remedies.org/
Located in Fort Lee and Union, New Jersey, the botanical therapeutics company develops, licenses, and markets a line of proprietary, botanical-based, medicinal products designed for unmet medical needs for the treatment, management, or prevention of disease. An introduction to the company is provided, including contacts, investor relations data, and an online form that can be used to apply to become an affiliate or distributor. Its products are described, with links to a purchase site.
https://www.herborium.com/
The online shopping site offers a variety of CBD products, including those designed for use by pets. The website offers certificates of analysis, introductions to physicians on their medical advisory board, and a store locator. Included are CBD products for recovery, relaxation, sleep, focus, immunity boosts, and for pets, each of which is listed and described. An online quiz can help determine the CBD products that are right for an individual. Special offers and rewards programs are included.
https://medterracbd.com/
Based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the herbal products company sells its products online rather than through a brick-and-mortar store. Its online product catalog includes more than two hundred herbal supplements and homeopathic medicines designed to support holistic health and wellness. Its process, guarantees, and promotions are featured, along with information about product safety, auto-delivery program, and reseller inquiries. An alphabetically sorted list of ailments is included.
https://www.nativeremedies.com/
North American Institute of Medical Herbalism
Established in Portland, Oregon in 1989, the NAIMH is designed to continue the Vitalist Tradition of herbalism and to promote a renewed awareness of the Thomsonian/Physiomedical school of medical-level herbalism. Its history, affiliated schools, clinical training programs, and faculty biographies are featured, along with. upcoming courses, certificate programs, and informational articles, audio, and videos for the general public, students, and professional herbalists.
https://www.naimh.com/
Kratom is an herbal leaf from a tree of the Rubiaceae family, a topical evergreen tree in the coffee family, native to Southeast Asia. Indigenous to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea, the leaves have been used in herbal medicine since the 19th century and have historically been used for chewing, smoking, or drinking as a tea. Through its store in Fullerton, California, or online, customers can purchase Kratom powders or capsules, which are described here.
https://onlinekratom.com/
Targeting retailers who want their own line of CBD products as an additional revenue stream, a grower looking for high-quality and high-yielding bulk hemp seeds, or those who have their own brand already, the California-based wholesaler offers hemp and CBD products, Delta 8 distillates, and other hemp-based products, which are highlighted here, including a catalog of bulk CBD products, bulk packages of face masks, and an informational blog covering various topics related to the industry.
https://wholesalehempandcbd.com/
