About Herbology

Herbology--also known as herbalism, medical herbalism or herbal medicine--is the system of natural medicine using plants and herbs to treat medical and physical ailments. Sometimes herbology includes the use of minerals, shells, fungi and bee products. The practice is universal among nonindustrialized populations and dominates the health care of many countries around the world.

History

• Herbology has been practiced for thousands of years. The oldest written reference to the practice is Shen Nung's Pen Ts'ao, dated to 3000 B.C. in China. Ancient Greeks and Romans were also established herbalists. Galen (131 to 200 A.D.) and Dioscorides (40 to 90 A.D.) were Greek soldiers in the Roman army who compiled texts that remained the "materia medica" of herbology for more than 1,500 years.
  In the seventh and eighth centuries, the Islamic conquest of North Africa provided Islamic scholars with many Greek and Roman herbology texts. One of the most influential herbology texts ever written was compiled by Avicenna, an Islamic herbalist who combined the Greek and Roman herbal traditions with those of his own people. His resulting work, "The Canon of Medicine," spread quickly throughout Europe during the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
  Throughout the Middle Ages, herbology was studied in monasteries. The works of notable herbalists such as Galen, Dioscorides and Avicenna were translated and studied. Universities were established in the eleventh and twelfth centuries for the study of herbology, among other subjects.
  With the advent of the printing press in the fifteenth century, the herbology texts were mass-produced and made available to the general public. Anyone could practice the art, as long as they could read the books. Today, herbology is practiced by licensed herbalists and laymen alike. There are numerous books and studies available to anyone who wants to learn.

Function

• Herbology is used to treat a variety of ailments and diseases through the use of plant material, namely herbs. Small complaints such as headaches and muscle sprains can be treated via herbology, as well as more complex disorders such as cancer and degenerative diseases. It is also used in disease prevention and to maximize the health of an individual.
  Herbology can be practiced by anyone with enough knowledge, although some areas require training and certification to openly treat patients. Herbalists use an entire plant, part of a plant or plant extract for treatment, rather than isolating a single active ingredient in the tradition of pharmaceutical medicine.

Types

• There are many different types of herbology that have developed around the world. The most common types include Western herbalism, traditional Chinese medicine and traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Western herbalism is based on traditional folk medicine or historical herb use, sometimes combined with modern scientific information. Examples of Western herbalism include Native-American traditions, Wise Woman traditions, folk, earth-centered and eclectic practices. Traditional Chinese medicine is the second-largest medical system in the world and consists of the theory and practice of herbology and acupuncture. Traditional Ayurvedic medicine is the traditional medical system of India and Nepal. Its practice consists of a mixture of herbology, surgery, internal medicine and toxicology.

Administration

• There are many different ways in which herbal preparations are administered in herbology. Alcoholic extracts known as tinctures, teas or tisanes, decoctions, vinegars, syrups, and extracts may be ingested or applied externally. Some treatments are for topical use only such as essential oils, salves, creams, ointments and poultices. Inhalation therapy, or aromatherapy, is also a common herbology treatment.

Popularity

• Herbology is very common in Europe. In Germany, herbal medicine is an accepted treatment, and herbal remedies are sold alongside prescription medications. In the United Kingdom, herbalists are trained in state-funded universities. However, according to a study released in 2004 by the United States National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, only 18.9 percent of Americans use herbology as a valid treatment option.