Herbal medicine

HERBAL MEDICINES

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WHAT IS HERBAL MEDICINE?

• Use of whole plants in the promotion of health and the treatment of disease.

• Primary medicine of over 80% of the world's population • Evidence of human use for more than 60 000 years

e.g. pollens from yarrow, marshmallow and ephedra found at the burial site of a Neanderthal man in Iraq


HERBAL APPROACH

• Broader view of disease looking at the underlying causes and individual expression of disease not just the presenting symptoms

• Prescription to restore homeostasis • Promotion of optimal cellular nutrition and elimination


HERBAL MEDICINE IN THE UK

• 1 in 5 regularly use CAM - Herb no 1• European market 2001 3.2 billion Euros• Registered herbalists: ~ 650 Western, 550 Chinese, 150

Ayurvedic & 56 other • Unregistered ~ Approximately 1000 • 6 BSc NIMH accredited courses• EHPA - Statutory Self Regulation


IS HERBAL MEDICINE THE SAME AS HOMEOPATHY?

• No!• Longer tradition - 60 000 years of use• Different philosophy & approach• Only plant based medicines• Medicinal plants used in material doses not in

homeopathic potency• Potential for herb-drug interactions


THE HERBAL CONSULTATION

• Client details including GP• Comprehensive medical history• Clinical examination & assessment • Diagnosis & prognosis• Discussion & advice • Individualised prescription & dispensing


WHY USE MEDICINAL PLANTS?

• Whole plant medicines usually have a more gentle and balanced effect

• Synergy within a plant & between plants• Low cost• Promote homeostatic mechanisms not suppress the

body’s efforts heal• Safe and effective treatment option when

pharmaceuticals inappropriate


SCOPE OF HERBAL MEDICINE

• Nutrition: food & nutrients e.g. Coriander, Garlic, Nettle & Oats

• Maintenance of Health: systems e.g.Dandelion, Garlic & Slippery Elm

• Treatment of Disease: acute & chronic e.g. self-medication, over-the-counter-products, medical herbalist & other practitioners


HERBAL MEDICINES

• Herbal medicines prescribed according to the needs of the individual patient

• Traceable products from unpolluted and sustainable sources

• Versatility of herbal preparations e.g. fresh, juice, tisane, tincture, syrup, aromatic water, powder, capsule, tablet, pessary, lotion, cream, ointment & oil


SOURCES OF HERBAL MEDICINES

• Cultivated and wild plants where appropriate

• A Medical Herbalist

• Herbal shop or other retail outlet e.g. Napiers 0131 553 7999 www.napierstheherbalists.com

• Avicenna 01570 471 000 [email protected]

• Herbal Apothecary 0116 2602690 www.herbalapothecary.net

• The Organic Herb Trading Co. 01823 401205 www.organicherbtrading.com

• Phyto Products 01623 644334 www.phyto.co.uk

• Rutland Biodynamics Tel 01572 757440 www.rutlandbio.com


SAFETY

• Few reports of adverse events following the use of medicinal plants

• Plant misidentification, substitution, adulteration and herb-drug interactions

• Improving quality control and labelling • NIMH suspected adverse event reporting scheme• Awareness of herb-drug interactions


RESEARCH

• In vitro analysis with chromatography• RCT’s Serenoa repens, Carduus marianus, Echinacea

spp., Ginkgo biloba, Cimicifuga racemosa, Hypericum perforatum &Valeriana officinalis

• NIMH - herbal practice & clinical audit• Laminitis Trust - Vitex agnus castus


FURTHER READING

• Bartram T Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine Grace Publishers 1995

• Bone K Clinical Applications of Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbs Phytotherapy Press1996

• Bradley P R British Herbal Compendium Vol. 1 British Herbal Medicine Association 1992

• British Herbal Medicine Association British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 BHMA 1983

• British Herbal Medicine Association British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1990 Volume 1 BHMA 1990

• Chevalier A The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley 1996

• Evans W Trease and Evans’s Pharmacognosy W.B.Saunders Ltd 1996


FURTHER READING CONTINUED

• Grieve M A Modern Herbal Jonathon Cape Ltd. 1931

• Griggs B Green Pharmacy Jill Norman and Hobhouse Ltd. 1981

• Hoffman D The New Holistic Herbal Element Books Ltd. 1990

• Mills S & Bone K Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy Churchill Livingstone 2000

• Newall CA, Anderson LA & Phillipson J D Herbal Medicines - A Guide for Healthcare Professionals The Pharmaceutical Press 1996

• Ody P The Herb Society’s Complete Medicinal Herbal Dorling Kindersley 1993

• Weiss R Herbal Medicine Beaconsfield Publishers Ltd 1988


USEFUL WEBSITES

• www.ejhm.co.uk European Journal of Herbal Medicine

• www.euroherb.com European Herbal Practitioners Association

• www.ex.ac.uk/phytonet/phytojournal European Scientific Co-operative on Phytotherapy - Clinical Trials in Phytotherapy: From Concept to Publication

• www.nimh.org.uk National Institute of Medical Herbalists

• www.trusthomeopathy.org Faculty of Homeopathy


Herbal medicine

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