You may have heard a lot about "natural" medicines. That's one of the terms used to refer to herbal medicines, sometimes called botanicals. There are healing practitioners who use only herbal medicine, but you can also find conventional physicians who are either already well-versed in herbals or interested in learning more. As a patient, you can bring your own interest in herbal medicine into the exam room, but first learn all you can about the advantages.
Definition
Herbal medicine is more than just herbs used for cooking or making herbal tea. They are remedies made from various parts of plants -- roots, flowers, stems and leaves, for example -- and prepared in different forms for treating many ailments. Herbal medicine can be used for physical or mental conditions, and with expert professional guidance, may be used in conjunction with conventional, synthetic drugs. When herbals are used with synthetic drugs, the term "complementary therapy" applies, as the medicines are intended to complement each other for the patient's benefit. While botanicals haven't been in standard use in the United States, the practice of using of herbal medicines is thousands of years old and quite common in some other parts of the world, including Europe.
Forms of Herbal Medicine
Commonly prescribed forms of herbal medicine include tablets or capsules made from a plant's derived chemicals; tinctures, a liquid made by combining a botanical with alcohol and water; extracts, liquid that has soaked chemicals from herbs; infusions, from steeping herbs in boiling water; and decoctions, used particularly with plants that require longer simmering in boiling water. What you commonly think of as herbal tea is actually an infusion, unless the beverage contains elements of tea plants. Patients may purchase herbal medicines either directly from the prescribing practitioner or at specialty pharmacies.
Several Treatments in One
One of the benefits of herbal medicine is their tendency to have more than one active ingredient. Naturopathic physician Janet McKenzie, BSN, MBA, ND of Ontario says, "Because herbal medicines consist of more than one active ingredient which work together, fewer side effects are likely than for patients taking pharmaceuticals. Plus, herbal meds can treat more than one problem at a time." Generally with conventional pharmaceuticals, you'll need a different medication for each condition, or even one for each symptom of your illness. Dr. Anne Jeffres, associate academic dean and research faculty at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, lists some examples of dual-duty herbal medicines as ginseng -- which the University of Maryland Medical School says is used for both circulatory disorders and memory enhancement -- Reishi mushrooms and astragalus. This multi-systemic therapeutic effect is also the root of another benefit of herbals: cost.
Relative Low Cost
As fewer patients have insurance coverage for pharmaceuticals, many are looking for herbals medicines to fill in the gaps. Part of the reason is that herbals can cost less out of pocket. Jeffres points to the multi-systemic nature of herbal medicines as being notably responsible for the lower cost, because patients may need to buy only one medicine for several ailments. McKenzie says in her private practice, most patients pay an average cost per supplement of about $25.
Food Grade Medicine
Many herbal medications are "food grade," which means it can be safely eaten by people. "Since these therapeutic formulas are derived from safely edible substances," McKenzie says, "it's often safer to take them over a long period of time, which is especially helpful if you're taking them as a preventive measure." She cautions, however, that not all herbal remedies are food grade, and some may even be toxic, so you're safest by using the prescribing services of a certified herbalist or physician.
Tailor-made Prescriptions
Jeffres adds to the list of advantages the fact that herbal medications can be compounded specifically for your medicinal needs. Plants used for medicine have been analyzed for hundreds of years, so knowledge is vast about their chemical ingredients when broken down. Formulas made up of several herbs can be made, either by the prescribing practitioner or in a specialty pharmacy, whether to impact the effect of a medicine by dosage or ingredients.
Growing Popularity
Americans may be newcomers to the use of herbal medicines, but the number of prescribing practitioners is growing as patients express more interest. The University of Maryland Medical School says more medical and pharmacy schools are teaching future professionals about herbal medicine. The primary and safest sources for herbal medicine are certified herbalists, which can be found through the American Herbalists Guild's listing; naturopathic physicians, listed by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians; traditional Chinese medicine physicians, also known as Oriental medicine, which can be found through the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; and even pharmacists and medical doctors.
References
- Janet McKenzie, BSN, MBA, ND; Naturopathic Physician, Perfect Balance Natural Health Care; Hamilton, Ontario
- Anne Jeffres, MS, DAOM, LAc; Associate Academic Dean, Chair of Herbology; Pacific College of Oriental Medicine; New York
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Herbal Medicine
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Botanical Dietary Supplements
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