HERBAL MEDICINE WHAT IS IT? HISTORY YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

What is herbal medicine?

Herbal medicine is almost as old as human civilisation itself. Ancient peoples quickly realised that some plants were edible, some poisonous and some beneficial to health - mostly by a simple but dangerous process of trial and error.

Because of their diverse range of uses, plants have a wide impact on the different functions of the body. Most of us eat plants in some form, every day so we are used to the effects they have - tea and coffee as stimulants; peppermint as a digestive; senna as a laxative; camomile as a relaxant.

In the same way, by using the appropriate plant extracts, herbal medicines can be used for treating a wide range of common health problems. They can also be taken as a preventative measure against catching infections such as coughs and colds. Taken regularly, some herbal medicines can help maintain the body's equilibrium in functions which are subject to recurring imbalances, such as digestion or menstruation.

Because our metabolism is well suited to digesting plants and herbal medicines have a gentle, cumulative effect, they have no side effects for most people. However, like all medicines, dosage instructions should be followed and you should consult your doctor before taking them if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or regularly taking other prescribed medicines.

There is a lot of confusion between herbal remedies and herbal medicines. It's very important to understand that herbal medicines are different to remedies. Herbal medicines, like all our products, are licensed because they have been approved by the Department of Health and have shown a proven, positive effect on the condition they treat. So always check that you are buying a licensed herbal medicine. You can do this by looking for the product licence or PL number on the label or ask your pharmacist for advice.

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