Herbal medicines are derived from plants and natural sources such as bee and fungal products. It uses the parts of the plant and tree such as bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, and berries for the preparation of medicines. There are more than 122 compounds used in the preparation of mainstream medicines resembling traditional products used in herbal medicines. Flowers, aroma, and spices are some of the basic ingredients of herbal medicines.
Herbs have been in use for medicinal purposes from the early ages when humans started growing plants for food. The earliest written evidence of the use of herbs is the Chinese herbal book Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, which dates back to around 2800 B.C. The book explains the use of 365 plants for the treatment of various medical conditions.
Ayurveda, the Indian traditional medicinal science, mentions the properties of hundreds of herbs (such as turmeric, cardamom, pepper etc.). It’s believed to be written in 1900 B.C. by ancient herbalist Charak. Ayurveda’s herbalist Sushruta mentioned 700 plants, 64 minerals, and 57 methodologies for treatment. It included yoga, aromatherapy, gem therapy, astrology, herbs, surgery, meditation, sound treatment, and color treatment along with the use of herbs to provide a complete remedy.
Greeks and Romans used medicinal plants for treatment in the first century B.C. and the book by Theophrastus called Historia Plantarum forms the basis for botany. The first Greek herbal text was written in 300 B.C. and it was about diet, happiness, and exercise. Herbal products were first produced in Greece by 200 BC.
In the middle ages, Islamic botanists who travelled across India and China wrote medicinal texts which were more advanced than the texts written in medieval Europe at the time. Ibn al-Baitar mentioned the properties of more than 1400 plants products and medicines in his book Kitab al-Jami fi al-Adwiya al-Mufrada in the 13th century. In the modern era, the first English language book on herbal medicines, Grete Herball, was published by an anonymous writer in 1526.
By the end of twentieth century, the herbal system of medicine was adopted in parts of world under various names. Ayurveda and Siddha medicinal systems are still dominant in South Asian countries. Chinese herbal medicine is recognized in various parts of the world. It uses the methodology of yin and yang balance and acupuncture to provide relief. African, Unani Tibb methodologies, and Native American medicines are popular in certain parts of the world.
Herbal supplements are identified as dietary supplements in the U.S. They are becoming popular because more people are turning to alternative medicines in response to the cost and side effects of factory manufactured medicines. Herbal medicines can be used for treating a number of conditions such as arthritis, cancer, eczema, asthma, migraine, fatigue, and irritable bowel movement. The traditional methodology has treatments for conditions for which there’s no treatment available in the popular methodologies.
Some common plants and natural products used in herbal medicines are:
Aloe Vera: It has been found effective in relieving first degree burns and wounds.
Artichoke: It’s effective in cholesterol reduction.
Ginger: It’s used to reduce inflammation.
Garlic: It’s effective in reducing cholesterol.
Honey: Honey can reduce cholesterol and promote healing.
Nigella Sativa: It’s found to possess antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, immune modulating, and anti-cancer properties.
Peppermint: It’s effective in irritable bowel syndrome.
Ginkgo: It’s used for improving blood circulation.
Yew Trees: The bark of Yew Trees has been found effective in the treatment of cancer.
Hoodia: It’s taken for weight loss.
Herbs have been used to prepare tinctures, tisanes, vinegars, teas, alcohol, essential oils, balms, lotions, syrups, and extracts. Many herbal remedies have been found to be effective in lab tests. For instance, the herb Gawo, which is used in African medicines, is found to be effective in treating fever, inflammation, and diarrhea. Ginkgo biloba has been tested in laboratories. It possesses properties which can dilate blood vessels and improve blood circulation. It also reduces the stickiness of blood platelets and helps to improve memory in the elderly. The herb Echinacea has been found to be effective in reducing cold by the duration of 1.4 days. It decreased the chances of getting cold by 58%.
According to the WHO, more than 80% of the world’s population is taking herbal medicines for primary health care. Pharmaceuticals are not only more expensive but sometimes, they have long lasting side effects, which is not found in herbal medicine. The herbal system is based on plants and some of them can be grown in the garden. It’s common in Germany to see prescription drugs being given along with herbal oils and extracts because herbal products are preferred over the chemical composition produced in factories. More than 70% of German physicians recommend plant based medicines.
The yin yang balance methodology followed by traditional Chinese medicines helps in balancing the pro oxidant and anti oxidant properties. It has been found to be effective in the ORAC ratings. William LeSassier discovered that herbs generally contain a higher number of chemicals in comparison to factory produced medicines. These chemicals can be used as growth hormones, antibiotics, anti inflammatory substances or toxin neutralizers.