The Power of Herbs

In the last decade herbalism has become a lot more popular amongst people of all ages. With the media exploiting the subject it’s no surprise that the general public have become more inclined to try alternative medicine and intrigued to find out more information on the subject.
Even if it’s only recently that herbalism has become popular, it’s the oldest form of medicine known to mankind, dating back 60,000 years. What a lot of us don’t realise is that conventional medicine as we know them today, derive from herbs and plants.

What does herbalism mean?
Herbalism is the use of plants and herbs to create medicines and remedies for health problems and to enhance well being.
Its main purpose is to stimulate the body’s own natural powers of healing by rebalancing and cleansing as well as acting therapeutically on the symptoms through their natural chemical compounds.
In recent years, there’s been a large increase in qualified practitioners such as herbalists and the range of herbal medicines available over the counter has also increased.

But is herbalism for everyone?
Claire Willcocks is a herbalist practising in Cornwall: “I have patients that come and see me that range from 3 months old to elderly in their 90s. Most of them already know a bit about herbalism, others come to me to get rid of side effects caused my conventional medicines, or to work along side them.”
More people have started to substitute conventional man made medicines to natural herbal medicines. Publications on herbs and their effects have also largely increased.
“People seem to read a lot about herbs which leads them to buy herbal remedies from the counter. Some people might get put off if the result isn’t what they expected, this is because every person is different and has different lifestyles. My advice is to see an herbalist first to find out what is best suited for them.” Claire continues, “I also give nutrition advice which is very important to work along side herbalism, a lot of people don’t realise.”

The difference between pure herbs and man made medicines:
Herbs are very complex organisms which contain hundreds of constituents that might be used to make medicines, the difference is in the synergy (from the Greek word sunergia “cooperation” and “working together”.) This is a combination of different natural chemicals and active ingredients which work together as a whole creating a greater result.
A pharmacologist would isolate the active ingredients where as herbalists believe that “nature knows best” and therefore leave the compounds to work together like mother nature intended.
For example, salicin which is where Aspirin originates, was first discovered by the Greeks around the 5th century B.C. This was found in the bark of willow trees (salix alba) and was used to relieve pain. In Aspirin today salicin is found in a different chemical form called acetil salicylic acid and mixed with other not active chemicals can relieve pain quickly. The problem with “chemical forms” is the many side effects, in this case aspirin could cause many, such as hearing loss, kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and so on whilst Salicin or Willow’s bark, as its most known today can only cause occasional minor side effects. It is used by herbalists to this day in pure form such as drops (herbal tinctures) and capsules and can be easily bought in the appropriate shops.
Many people have had better beneficial results using combinations of herbal remedies. Even though at times they will take longer to cure a problem it is still worth giving it a go.
The use and re-use of chemicals can build up quickly in our systems and give us side effect that are at times irreversible.
Using herbal remedies we can become closer to nature again like it was meant to be as well as causing a lot less damage to our bodies.
There is plenty of information out there on alternative remedies and plenty of natural stores and herbalists available in the U.K.
You can find your local herbalist by searching the National Institute of Medical Herbalists on www.nimh.org.uk
A government survey in 2004 shows in fact that more than one third of adults now use alternative medicine and healing.
Herbalist Claire Willcocks runs “herbs for health” at Truro College on Monday evenings. The aim of the course is to familiarise people with some common herbs they can use at home, to keep healthy and treat minor ailments, and to create basic remedies from home.
For more information please contact Truro College on 01872 265800