Herbal Essentials

Live Holistically is a multi-author site.
This post was written by: Carol Webb

Herbalism

Also known as herbal medicine and phytomedicine, herbalism refers to any medical treatment in which plants and/or their extracts play the dominant role.

History

The need to re-instate harmony and thereby treat dis-ease remained a major goal during the evolutionary stages of modern herbalism.

Ebers Papyrus

The first medical records of ancient Egypt, the Ebers Papyrus written about 1500 BC, contains 876 substances, most of them herbal including:

• Castor Oil
• Valerian
• Dill
• Senna Leaves
• Myrrh
• Wormwood
• Peppermint
• Anise
• Fennel
• Lotus Flowers
• Linseed
• Juniper Berries
• Gentian

There are prescriptions and formulae covering a wide range of medicines, which are still in use today.

Ancient Greece

In about 420 BC the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates started to classify foods into different healing categories. Centuries later Galen continued with the work of Hippocrates (Doctors still swear a Hippocratic Oath).

Other Renowned Herbalists

Nicholas Culpeper 1616-1654, was one of the best known British herbalist’s, and while working in London’s East End, wrote papers and treatises on herbal treatments. More recently Dr. Busby of Iowa, USA, Dr. Boenninghausen of Germany and Dr. Finlay Ellingwood of Chicago Illinois, a pioneer and fronteirsman who discovered the remarkable properties of the Echinacea root.

Different From Pharmaceutical Medicines

One fundamental way in which herbal remedies differ from pharmaceutical medicines (which are usually synthetic molecules modelled on original plant extracts ) is in their preparation from plants in their natural state.

Synergy Of The Whole Plant

This is because of the belief that the whole plant organism is in a state of balance, and that using it as it is developed in nature, provides both buffering action (counteracting possible side effects) and synergistic action (enhancing the desired effects).

Treatment

The treatment is chosen according to the aspect of health considered in most need of adjustment.

Dietary Measures

These are likely to be included, the overall aim being to help the body to help itself - to enable the body’s self-healing mechanism to function properly.

Preparation Of Herbal Remedies

Infusion: used for the tender parts of the plants, such as flowers or leaves.

1. Bruise fresh herbs by pounding in pestle and mortar
2. Pour boiling water onto 1 oz. of fresh or 1/2 oz. of dried herbs
3. Leave for up to 10 minutes
4. Strain into clean container

Maceration: To make a more concentrated and potent medicine.

1. Bring 1 oz. fresh plant material to boiling in saucepan of spring water containing 1 pint
2. Remove from heat
3. Allow to stand (infuse) for several hours
4. Strain into a clean container

Decoction: Used for tougher roots, bark, seeds or stems.

1. Bruise herb thoroughly with hammer
2. Gently bring 1 pint spring water and herb to the boil, letting it rolling boil for 3-4 minutes
3. Cover the saucepan and leave to infuse for 15 minutes
4. Strain into a clean container

Home Made Tincture: When it’s impossible to buy what you need, as is the case for the very important Cayenne tincture.

• Ingredients:
  
• 6 Bird’s Eye Chiles
• 1 Bottle of Vodka (the best that you can afford)

• Method:
• Slice Chiles lengthways (remembering to wear rubber gloves and not touch eyes)
• Pour Vodka into wide-necked pickling jar
• Add Chiles
• Shake every day for 6 weeks
• Strain into clean container
• Use brown pipette bottle to dispense

How Herbs Are Used

Some recipes (the original name for medical prescriptions) call for adding herbs to:

• Bathwater
• Foot Baths and Hand Baths
• Basin of Hot water/Inhalation
• Hot Compress
• Cold Compress

But mostly they are drunk as healing teas, and this is where a knowledge of common herbs is useful. Next week I’ll give you the top 20 useful herbs.