Herbal Medicine… is as old as humanity and the basis of modern medicine.
Plants are our means of obtaining nourishment – either directly or indirectly – and plants also provide us with a significant pool of available therapeutic medicines.
Herbalists use natural plant remedies prepared in a number of ways – which herb or herbs, method of application, dose and frequency will depend on you and the problem to be addressed.
Examples of Herbal Medicines include:
- capsules and tablets
- tinctures or fluid extracts
- teas and decoctions
- syrups and gargles
- lotions, ointments, creams, oils and poultices
- pessaries and suppositories
Herbalists Prepare Formulas for you Needs
Herbal Medicines can be Individualised
In each case, the remedy can be tailor-made to suit the individual. All herbal remedies have the added bonus of stimulating – to a greater or lesser degree – the liver, which is an often neglected organ when it comes ro correcting physical (or even emotional) dysfunction. There are many advantages to using herbal medicine for supporting your health, such as lower incidence of side effects, gentler therapeutic effect and the ability to address other issues at the same time. A good example may be seen with herbs and alternative remedies used to treat arthritis. A few years ago Vioxx, a well-known prescription drug used to treat arthritis, was taken off the market due to the discovery of a significant risk of cardiovascular complications among people taking the medication. Herbal medicine treatments for arthritis, on the other hand, have few side effects and most are well tolerated. A commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory herbal medicine for arthritis might also aid in supporting digestive and liver function.
NZ Kawakawa
Treating the person holistically also means addressing lifestyle issues, and making dietary changes – such as reducing pro-inflammatory foods, increasing antioxidants and ensuring adequate fluid intake. These, plus adding simple herbs to the regime have few, if any, risk of side effects.
It is important to note that while generally very safe, some herbs are contraindicated in a number of medical conditions, some have interactions with drugs and so on. Unfortunately, even in New Zealand, purity of products available to the public cannot be guaranteed. For these reasons it is advisable to seek treatment from our qualified herbalists – so you can be sure of a thorough understanding of your current condition, the medical approach and your health journey.
