What Is Herbal Medicine and How Does It Work?
If you've ever made a cup of chamomile tea to help you sleep, reached for ginger when your stomach was unsettled, or had a regular cup of tea or coffee, you've already used herbal medicine. The instinct to turn to plants for support is as old as human history itself.
Herbal medicine is one of the world's oldest forms of healthcare. Long before pharmaceutical drugs existed, plants were the primary medicine available to every culture on earth. Despite all the advances in modern medicine, herbal practice never disappeared. Instead it evolved and was refined, and today it is practised by qualified clinical herbalists who combine centuries of traditional plant knowledge with a solid grounding in modern scientific disciplines.
What Herbal Medicine Actually Is
At its simplest, herbal medicine is the use of plant materials to support the body's health and wellbeing. Essentially, plant materials are consumed or used in a variety of forms such as teas, tinctures, creams, capsules, oxymel (vinegar and honey preparations). Which form is most applicable depends on numerous factors including individual preferences.
My predominant focus in clinical practice is the use of whole-herb plant medicine, working with the complete plant in its natural form. In recent times there has been a shift towards aligning herbal medicine more closely with the pharmaceutical model, using isolated compounds or a "this herb for this condition" approach. This loses some of the beauty of herbal medicine where tens to hundreds of naturally occurring compounds work together synergistically, each one moderating, supporting and enhancing the others whilst formulated to individualised needs.
Herbal medicine is practised in many forms and at many different levels, ranging from simple home remedies and community herbalism through to clinical medical herbalism. In the latter case, training usually takes 4 years or more at college or university level and encompasses subjects such as anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, clinical diagnostics, biochemistry and herbal materia medica. A qualified medical herbalist takes a detailed look at the whole person such as the health history, past medical history, family history, lifestyle, diet, sleep, stress and constitution type. They then individualise the herbal therapeutic plan accordingly. It would not be unusual for two people presenting with similar complaints to leave with quite different prescriptions. This holistic approach of treating the person rather than just the symptom is one of the things that distinguishes herbal medicine from simply buying a supplement in a health shop.
How Do Plants Work in the Body?
Plants contain active compounds such as flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, tannins, volatile oils, and many more. How these compounds collectively interact with the body has been observed and understood in empirical fashion for millennia. Science continues to play catch-up as a modest but growing body of research evidence mostly supports traditional herbal practice. As examples of this, Echinacea (Echinacea spp.) stimulates specific immune cells; valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) acts on GABA receptors to promote calm and sleep; St. john's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) influences serotonin pathways; and milk thistle's silymarin protects and supports liver cell regeneration.
One of the particularly interesting things about plant medicines is that they tend to work through multiple pathways at once. A single herb might simultaneously be anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and calming to the nervous system. This is a great advantage when many of the health concerns we experience are themselves multifactorial and complex.
What Conditions Can Herbal Medicine Help With?
Herbal medicine works particularly well for chronic and long-term conditions where the body needs support over time. Digestive complaints such as IBS, bloating, acid reflux and sluggish digestion respond very well. Women's health is another area of real strength. Medical herbalists frequently support women experiencing PMS (Pre-menstrual tension), period pain, PMOS (Polycystic Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (previously known as PCOS)), endometriosis, perimenopause, menopause and fertility concerns.
Stress, anxiety, poor sleep and burnout are increasingly common reasons for why people seek out a herbalist, with adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) supporting the body's response to stress over time, and nervines like lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) calming the nervous system. Skin conditions, immune support, low energy, joint pain and respiratory complaints can also benefit.
In clinical practice, I see all age groups ranging from the newborn to those in their sage years. It's worth saying clearly: herbal medicine is not a replacement for medical care when medical care is what's needed. A good medical herbalist will always refer to a GP when appropriate and will work alongside any allopathic treatment being received.
What Happens at a Consultation?
A first appointment is longer than a typical GP visit, lasting usually around an hour. People are often surprised at how much ground is covered as you’ll be asked about your main concern as well as your overall health picture, lifestyle and more. What may seem like unrelated questions often reveal deeper connections and patterns. From this, a personalised herbal prescription is put together, commonly a bespoke tincture blend which may be prescribed alongside herbal teas, dietary suggestions and/or other recommendations. Follow-up appointments allow progress to be assessed and the plan to be adjusted as needed.
Most people find the process itself valuable. I have very frequently been thanked simply for the time taken and for making someone feel heard, and I do not underestimate how therapeutic that is in its own right.
Is Herbal Medicine Safe?
Used by a qualified practitioner, herbal medicine is very safe. That said, herbs are medicines and need to be used thoughtfully. Some herbs may interact with pharmaceutical drugs, some are not suitable in pregnancy, and some are not appropriate for certain conditions. A qualified medical herbalist will always check for these things with your full health picture in mind.
A Final Word
In my work with plant medicines since 2008, I have seen their use change lives time and time again. Well chosen plants work with the body, rather than against it, and for many people offer something that is genuinely missing from allopathic care. If you're curious about whether herbal medicine might help you, the best place to start is with a consultation. I'd love to hear from you.
Pods Wellness is a Natural Health & Wellbeing Clinic based in Headford, Co. Galway, offering herbal medicine consultations both online and in person, as well as massage therapy. To book your appointment you can click on the link above. Appointments can also be booked by visiting our website www.podswellness.com or by contacting us by whatsapp on 085 1314617.
