Herbal Therapy
A herb is defined as a seed plant that has a pulpy stem that withers
away completely to the ground at the end of each growing season. In
other words, a herb does not grow like a tree or shrub. The stems
are not woody. Herbs are plants that have medicinal properties.
Herbal remedies are divided into two basic types, stimulating herbs
and tonic herbs. Stimulating herbs are the ones that are used to
treat the symptoms of medical conditions. Tonic herbs are remedies
that really assist the organism, rather than actually heal. In most
herbal therapy situations, the two kinds are combined and the art is
knowing what goes with what in order to maximize the benefit. The
herbalist will listen to the whole panoply of symptoms that are
presented by the patient and then he will choose a particular herb
that will be thought or expected to have a direct and specific
effect on the condition. To this the herbalist will add one or more
other herbal remedies for the purpose of working along with the main
herb.
More to the point, the herbalist will endeavor to treat the patient
as a whole organism, rather that try to pinpoint the specific herb
for a single medical condition. A herbal compound made up of several
different herbs will be mixed with a view to treat the entire
individual, not just the perceived sickness.
Herbal Therapy has been around for many many centuries. It appears
to have begun in China where the traditions are still followed to
this date. In the United States more and more traditional medical
providers are investigating herbal therapies as a safe alternative
to heavy and expensive medicine. Herbal treatments are becoming more
and more mainstream.
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