Herbal medicines are the precursors of many common drugs prescribed in clinical practice in modern western industrial countries today. Further, herbs and herbal products are still an important part of the primary health care systems in many parts of

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The oldest medical book that mentions herbs is the Huang Di Nei Jing - The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine. Differing opinions date the book between 800 BC and 200 BC. It’s a compendium of medical theory and practice attribu

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These are remedies that have been observed improving the patients experience of rheumatic problems. That is not to say that they have a specific effect upon the disease or even necessarily upon the musculo/skeletal tissue itself. It is a description

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The anti-spasmodics prevent or ease spasms or cramps in the muscles of the body. They will reduce tension in the body, and, as many of the anti-spasmodics are also nervines, they will sometimes ease psychological tension as well. Many of the herbal r

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Astringents are remedies that have a 'binding' action on tissue, usually due to a group of complex chemicals called tannins. The name tannin derives from their use in the tanning industry, and they share the property of precipitating, or curdling, pr

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Bitter herbs are fundamental to Phytotherapy's contribution to holistic medicine. They are quite simply herbs that have a bitter taste, ranging from mildly bitter Yarrow to fiercely bitter Rue. Absinthin, a constituent found in Wormwood, is so bitter

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This is a general term for herbal remedies that have an action on the heart. Some of the remedies in this group are powerful Cardio-Active agents such as Foxglove, while others are gentler and safer Cardiac Tonics such as Hawthorn and Linden. These r

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Carminatives' main action is to soothe the gut wall, easing griping pains and reduce the production of gas in the digestive tract. This is usually due to the complex of volatile oils present, which have a locally anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and

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This is an action that has the specific effect of stimulating the flow of bile from the liver. In orthodox pharmacology there is a differentiation between 'direct cholagogues' which actually increase the amount of secreted bile, and 'indirect cholago

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A demulcent herbs have the effect of acting as a protective barrier on irritated or inflamed tissue. When they are used on the skin demulcents are called emollients. The experience of demulcency cannot always be explained pharmacologically. They cont

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Diuretics are agents (both herbs and drugs), that help the body to rid itself of excess fluids by increasing the rate of urine production by the kidneys. The accumulation of excess fluids in tissues, known as edema, is sympto

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The term emmenagogue is widely used to describe plants that are used for a range of conditions in the female reproductive system. It has, unfortunately, come to imply a remedy that has some kind of effect on the functioning or tissue of the reproduct

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Pulmonary/Tonic - Stimulating Expectorant alkaloid containing saponin containing volatile oil containing - '

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Hepatics are herbal remedies which in a wide range of ways aid the work of the liver. They tone, strengthen and in some cases increase the flow of bile. In a broad holistic approach to health they are of great importance because of the fundamental ro

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What is a Hypnotic? Hypnotics are herbal remedies that will help to induce a deep and healing state of sleep. They have nothing at all to do with hypnotic trances! How Hypnotics Work Herbs that help you sleep have modes of action that vary from mild

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These are remedies that reduce elevated blood pressure, tending to normalize both systolic & diastolic levels. They are explored in more depth in the section on the cardio-vascular system. Black Cohosh

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What is a Nervine? A nervine is a plant remedy that has a beneficial effect upon the nervous system in some way. This makes the word nervine another catch-all expression, and to study them properly it helps to differentiate them into a number of cate

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This is a vague and variable problem that is functional in nature and usually not due to an underlying structural cause. Belching, distension and borborygmus often occur associated with abdominal or epigastric pain. There is often an overt psychologi

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Translator's Summary Adaptogens, first defined in the 1950s by Lazarev are substances that normalize body functions, strengthen systems and functions compromised by stress and have a protective effect against a wide variety of environmental and emoti

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James Ryan never thought he would be drinking herbal tea straight from an apple-juice bottle. But a lot of things had changed over the last year. He never thought he would be alive now, either, and here he was talking to me about his incredible journ

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Hans Seyle, the Canadian medical researcher who wrote the best-known book on the subject, "The Stress of Life" spent many years observing what happens to living systems under stress. Seyle and many other modern researchers have been able to

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Research regarding the active ingredients of herbs seems to be a key point for the acceptance of herbal remedies in the West. This research is very valuable. It lends credibility to herbal remedies, and the body of scientific knowledge naturally grow

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Throughout my many years in my sports and martial arts, I have come across many trauma (known in Chinese as dit da, literally "fall and strike") prescriptions for herbal liniments, powders, plasters, and decoctions. Many Chinese are familia

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M.D. made some sweeping conclusions about the effectiveness of CAM therapies on the treatment of menopausal symptoms. I would like to take issue primarily with their generalizations about the effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in tre

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Nowadays we experience a return to healing measures that are close to nature; also remedies and foods of unnatural origin - away from industrial packaged products. This may be one of the reasons for the great attractiveness and fascination of the hea

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Introduction In clinical setting we frequently see patients who are taking antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, and Wellbutrin. Chinese herbs like Albizzia may be an alternative to psychiatric drugs. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM

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Ginseng is the best known and most popular Chinese herb. It is known as the "King" of Chinese herbs. With Ginseng, you get what you pay for. Some roots cost thousands of dollars. Most consumers will not be seeking out the highest quality Gi

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As many of you are aware, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed ephedra-containing supplements from the shelves. This means that diet pills and body-building products that contain ephedra (ma huang) and similar "stimulant" supp

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 Beyond the more immediately-perceptible metabolic dysfunction accompanying a typical hyperglycemia, long-term complications of diabetes mellitus involve disorders of the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels. Due to the widespread prevalence

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Of all conditions which the herbalist/traditional Chinese medical doctor may treat, cancer represents a major test of the herbal tools we have at our disposal. A common and largely accurate perception of the damaging effects of malignancy is that &qu

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