Herbalism: Alternative Medicine.

Herbalism treats mental and physical conditions with plant compounds. Humans have practiced herbalism for thousands of years and still utilize it today. If you've taken a herbal supplement, such as ginkgo bilboa to improve your memory, you've engaged in herbalism. Complementing Western medicine with herbs may improve your physical and cognitive functioning. However, some herbs are dangerous, so do your research before you visit an apothecary.

What is Herbalism?

Herbalism treats conditions with compounds extracted from plant parts, including leaves, berries, flowers, stems and roots. You can buy herbs on your own or reach out to a herbalist, who can tell you which herbs may alleviate your symptoms. Some herbalists sell their own products, such as teas and tinctures.

Each plant has its own alleged healing properties. A herbal blend could treat the following:

• Skin conditions, such as psoriasis

• Digestive issues

• Weak immune systems

• Anxiety and depression

• Menopause and menstrual symptoms

• Insomnia

• Chronic pain

• Nausea and cramping

• Poor memory

• High cholesterol

Some herbs have side effects, such as headaches, cramps and itching, so use small amounts before increasing your dosage. For topicals, apply the ointment on a small patch of skin to check for allergic reactions.

How Does Herbalism Work?

Like taking a pill every day, you'll apply or ingest supplements to receive the herbal benefits. You can buy premade supplements or use herbs, empty capsules and other ingredients to make your own products at home. Common types of supplements include:

• Tea

• Tinctures

• Topicals, such as salves and ointments

• Powders

• Capsules

• Extracts

• Dried herbs

Applying topicals directly to your skin may relieve chronic pain. If you prefer to ingest the compounds, you can make tea with dried herbs, take capsules, stir powders into drinks and apply tinctures under your tongue. Many people make herbalism part of their daily routine or ingest herbs as needed, like when they might have caught a cold.

Is Herbalism Safe?

"Natural" doesn't automatically mean "safe." Thousands of plants, berries and fungi are toxic to humans. However, herbalism can benefit you if you buy reputable products with safe, verifiable ingredients. For more help, speak with a herbalist for guidance on buying the right products. They might even prepare a remedy just for you.

Regulations

According to John Hopkins Medicine, the Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) classifies herbal medicine as dietary supplements and doesn't regulate them like other drugs. Manufacturers can make vague claims about herbs but can't promise to cure or treat disorders.

Since herbal supplements have fewer regulations, manufacturers might not submit them to third-party clinical trials. As a result, you'll need to research supplements before adding them to your diet. Otherwise, you could ingest toxic plants or chemicals.

Medication Interactions

Herbs can interact with pharmaceuticals, creating side effects and even canceling out the medication. Mayo Clinic reports that several herbs react badly with heart medicine, beta blockers, blood pressure medicine and blood thinners, including:

• Coenzyme Q-10

• Danshen

• Evening primrose

• Ginseng

• Ginkgo biloba

• Hawthorn

• Garlic

• Saw palmetto

• Licorice

• St. John's wort

Most doctors don't receive medical training in herbalism. However, don't make the mistake of assuming that they don't know anything. Your doctor could tell you which herbs are safe and whether they'll interact with medication. If they approve your herbs, consult them again before increasing the dosage.

Reputable Suppliers

Research suppliers before you buy supplements, especially if you're shopping online. If a product claims to have a "herbal" or "proprietary blend," look for a list of ingredients. Avoid products that won't tell you exactly what you're consuming. Look up each herb when you do find an ingredient list to ensure that you can safely consume the drug.

Similarly, search online for customer complaints about the manufacturer. Never buy a supplement that claims to cure any condition, such as depression or eczema. If you can't find a trustworthy brand, consider buying dried herbs or even growing your own to make your own supplements.

How Effective is Herbalism?

Ultimately, the experience varies. Some people find relief with herbs while others return to Western medicine. Before you start, keep in mind that compounds affect everyone differently. Your brain chemistry might not react to one plant but do well with another. Likewise, a relative could have the opposite experience.

Your consumption method influences the plants' efficacy. A tincture enters your bloodstream in seconds, providing quick results. Conversely, drinking tea or taking a herbal bath could take over an hour to kick in. However, taking time isn't necessarily a bad thing: those methods can offer long-term effects.

Which Herbs Are Right for You?

Like pharmaceuticals, herbalism requires experimentation. You could find the right herbs on the first try. However, many people experiment for a while until they find the right combination. Sometimes, you need to increase your dosage, switch your herbs or try another method. For example, if drinking tea doesn't work, you may need a topical or tincture.

Tea drinkers often adjust their practice until they find the right flavor. Making your own tea mixtures and storing them separately gives you fast access to your favorite remedy. You might add new herbs to your routine when you have different needs, such as increased chronic pain or digestive issues.

Overall, responsible herbalism can work alongside other alternative medicines, such as yoga and meditation, as well as pharmaceuticals.