Herbalism is a field of study that understands the pharmacognosy of medicinal plants which makes up the foundation of traditional medicine. It also refers to the folk and traditional medicinal practice used over the span of human history to aid in the treatment of illness, disease, injury, and many health-related fields, existing long before modern medicine and being the very foundation for the creation of Western Allopathic health practices today.

The roots of herbalistic practices can be found on every continent, stemming from many cultures, and have a vast application when it comes to the treatment of health, and yet, in today’s society, it is considered pseudoscience to many.

With the rise in reductionist philosophies in medicine (targeted and scientific approaches to the management of symptoms by only looking to the impacted system indicated in scientific investigation), the traditional holistic approach to health has been perceived as a lesser science, one practiced by those who cannot have a profound scientific impact (at least according to allopathic practitioners).

However, in modern times, there has been a massive resurgence globally of traditional practices returning to common practice. Looking at existing traditional systems still effectively in practice today, such as Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine in India, it has been proven time and time again that a combination of both modern and traditional medicine is needed to heal our world and the wider population.

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This does not mean one system is better than the other. Though some will try to convince you either way.

Understanding the differences and similarities

Both have their pros and cons. Both have the same goal of treating illness and providing healing. However, both can have vastly different approaches to the ‘how’ of healing.

Allopathic medicine

Also known as allopathy, this is an evidence-based system of medicine that requires data of all kinds to prove the existence of an ailment, before treating it with pharmaceuticals and other methods such as radiation and surgery.

This has led to a system of medicine that is highly targeted in the treatment of illness, able to have a high-impact intervention, especially in the case of physical ailments to resolve the issue as soon as possible. For some, this is exactly what is required when treating acute health conditions (acute meaning a one-off issue or ailment lasting a period of 2-4 weeks on average).

Western medicine has the highest fatality, injury, and impact rate of all other healing modalities combined, this has led to some of the mistrust towards Western doctors as some view them as cold or too distant from their patients. And yet, we cannot discredit the incredible advances made in medicine by Western medicine when it comes to the treatment of epidemics, the advent of accurate surgical applications, and the treatment of illness through powerful pharmaceuticals.

However, where this system falls short is in the treatment of complex chronic health conditions.

Because of the structure in which allopathic/ western/ modern medicine functions and operates, this often leads to little time to approach a chronic health sufferers' issue with a more holistic (whole body) approach, understanding the impact one system can have on many others, and formulating treatments that incorporate multiple approaches, rather than one targeted application of health.

This is where Natural Holistic practices come in.

Holistic Medicine

The most common label for natural health practitioners that the public may be familiar with is that of a naturopath. Though many have an understanding of what a naturopath is, most don’t know where this healing modality began or the profound impact it is having on medicine today.

In short, Naturopathy is the culmination of many traditional practices, with a grounding in science that allows health practitioners to approach health from both modern and traditional philosophies.

One of the primary practices of any naturopath or natural health practitioner is herbalism; the understanding of the healing power of nature and its many impacts on us physically, emotionally, psychologically, and even environmentally and sociologically.

Much like the allopathic healers of modern times, natural health practitioners seek to treat the individual, not by the sum of their parts (mechanism/ reductionism) but by their whole presentation (Tolle Totum) seeking to discover the foundation of their presenting symptoms and digging deeper to learn the entire health history, current environment, genetics, diet, and general health and wellbeing of an individual before prescribing a range of treatments.

The driving principle of natural medicine is to treat the whole person, following the six tenants that guide any practitioner in their treatment of a patient:

First, do no harm

The healing power of nature

Identify and treat the cause

Doctor as teacher

Treat the whole person

Prevention

Some of these may seem similar to what is practiced in modern medicine, and some of them are. And yet the application of these philosophies can be very different across modalities.

First, do no harm

This is the core of all medical practices and is the genuine desire to help someone suffering from illness, without causing them harm.

Natural Health: to utilize the least amount of force, and refer the patient onwards when presentation is out of their scope.

Western Health: to reduce the quantity of treatment to target only what needs addressing to reduce symptoms to manageable levels.

The Healing Power of Nature

Natural health practitioners recognize the value of the natural world in the healing process, combining natural treatments with the incorporation of a healthy environment as a foundation for human health. They also recognize the inherent healing power of nature within the body and understand how to harness and encourage our systems to heal themselves.

Identify and treat the cause

The majority of practitioners will endeavor to not suppress the symptoms of illness but will instead seek to identify the underlying cause of illness and remove obstacles to a cure. Suppression is rarely used as this is seen to mask the illness, not treat it.

Doctor as teacher

It is the practitioner's role to not only treat health but to educate their patients on how to health themselves, providing an understanding of how to stay well and manage illness when it arises. Through education and a trusting professional relationship, patients can have a better understanding of the steps needed to get healthy and stay healthy.

Treat the whole person (Tolle Totum)

Natural health healers understand there is an inherent interconnectedness within the body, our environment, and lifestyle which has a profound impact on health. This is why they seek a whole-person-based approach, deeply investigating the nature of an individual to better understand how to treat them as a whole.

Prevention

There is a strong belief that prevention of illness is better in all cases than simply the management of illness once it presents itself. This is another defining difference between natural health and Western health; Western health treats a person once they become sick while natural health helps to prevent some illnesses from manifesting in the first place by intervening and educating patients to health themselves.

Say what you will for the reasons why these modalities have a different approach to the treatment of health, illness, and prevention but to the wider global community, both are used all over the world in the treatment of sick patients, and both have their place in modern times.

But back to herbalism...

Now that we have a better understanding of the current landscape of health in a general sense, let’s take a deeper dive into what a herbalist is, what they do, and how simple adjustments to your daily lifestyle can have profound impacts on health.

What is Herbalism?

This is the use of plants to promote health. Seems simple enough, and yet there are multiple applications for using nature to heal the body and promote better health and wellbeing. You may realize as you read this information that some of the traditional practices listed here you may already use in your routine!

Some of the most common remedies you will find are teas, tinctures, extracts, supplements, compresses, salves, and more.

Herbalism is an incredible field of study, stemming back thousands of years and passed on through generations to become the foundation of any medical practice you can find today!

(Yes, even modern medicine finds its roots in herbalism as it makes up the foundation of pharmacology.)

Being both natural and flexible, many are turning to herbalism for guidance as it can adapt and grow with modern science, while also incorporating the spiritual and cultural significance of the plants used. You can find some of these spiritual and magical applications in both the magical herb index and the spiritual library, which will allow you to see which cultures used what in both their healing and spiritual practice!

And a Herbalist is?...

Put simply, a herbalist is a plant medicine expert, able to recognize and understand the herbal traditions passed through the centuries, apply modern approaches to healing now, and carefully select the specific herbs and constituents needed to treat a specific health concern or concern.

They have a profound understanding of nature and the different components of a plant or herb that can be prepared accordingly and in a variety of ways to treat a variety of conditions, be they health, spiritual, or even cultural (ritual and magic).

Every herbalist must train with experienced herbalists before they can call themselves one either through formal education or through the traditions passed down through their ancestry. A simple Google search may yield some general results, but for the diagnosis and treatment of illness, approaching a herbalist is the same process as visiting your doctor or naturopath.

Much like doctors, herbalists can specialize in many different areas, some more informal, having learned through their family and utilizing this at home, while others may seek a more clinical and scientific approach, understanding the chemical makeup of plants used in pharmacology. And then some simply enjoy a cup of tea and grow their herbs in their garden.

What type of herbalist you want to be is up to you, but for those of you not seeking the scientific path, I have a beginner's herbalist course that will introduce you to the wonderful world of home herbalism and even a little science, so you can start making your own remedies safely at home.