Herbal Medicine - Natural Remedies for Health and Wellness

Herbal medicine refers to the use of plant-based materials such as roots, leaves, seeds, or extracts for therapeutic purposes, drawing upon traditional knowledge and practices to promote health and well-being.
Category
Alternative Medicine
Where to get
Available in health stores and through herbal practitioners
Applicable for
Various Health Conditions
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Herbal Medicine FAQ


Image credit: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

What are herbal medicines?

Herbal medicines contain active ingredients from natural plants. Their use dates back thousands of years, even before the invention of conventional medicine. While many people prefer herbal medicines to some doctor-prescribed medications, others may use them in combination with prescription and nonprescription drugs.

Why do people use herbal medicine?

Research from a 2018 focus-group study suggests that people may use herbal medicine because they are dissatisfied with conventional medicine. They may also use herbal medicines to: However, a 2017 report published in the Journal of Patient Experience notes that factors associated with the use of herbal medicine include:

Can herbal medicine be used as a modern medicine?

With worldwide research into pharmacology, some herbal medicines have been translated into modern remedies, such as the anti-malarial group of drugs called artemisinin isolated from Artemisia annua, a herb that was known in Chinese medicine to treat fever.

What are herbal supplements?

Herbal supplements may contain entire plants or plant parts. Herbal supplements come in all forms: dried, chopped, powdered, capsule, or liquid, and can be used in various ways, including: The practice of using herbal supplements dates back thousands of years. Today, the use of herbal supplements is common among American consumers.

What are the active ingredients in herbal medicine?

The active ingredients of many herbal preparations are as yet unknown. Some pharmaceutical medications are based on a single active ingredient derived from a plant source. Practitioners of herbal medicine believe that an active ingredient can lose its impact or become less safe if used in isolation from the rest of the plant.

Herbal Medicine References

If you want to know more about Herbal Medicine, consider exploring links below:

What Is Herbal Medicine

  1. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/herbal-medicine
  2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/herbal-medicine
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbal_medicine
  4. https://www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/natural_medicine/herbal_medicine
  5. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/herbal-medicine
  6. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/herbal-medicine
  7. https://www.schoolofhealth.com/herbal-medicine/what-is-herbal-medicine/
  8. https://naturalmedicineweek.com.au/what-is-herbal-medicine/
  9. https://medlineplus.gov/herbalmedicine.html

Herbal Medicine Information

  1. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance
  2. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/treatment/herbal-medicine
  3. https://www.qld.gov.au/health/staying-healthy/herbal-medicine

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