Western herbalism, like the much older system of traditional Chinese Medicine, is a form of the healing arts that draw from the herbal traditions of Europe, the Americas and parts of Asia. Both Western and Eastern forms of herbalism emphasize the study and use of naturally occurring compounds in plants in the treatment and prevention of illness.

Western herbalism is based upon "pharmocognosy", the study of natural products. Pharmocognosy includes the identification, extraction methods, and applications of specific plant constituents responsible for specific therapeutic actions, such as the use of digoxin from digitalis leaf for heart failure. These constituents are extracted, purified and studied in clinical research. They may be concentrated to deliver standardized, set doses. Sometimes, the natural constituent can be synthesized in the laboratory, or changed and patented. Practitioners may choose to use fresh medicinal plants, simple extracts, or standardized extracts.

Origins

Over 2,500 years ago Hippocrates wrote, "In medicine one must pay attention not to plausible theorizing but to experience and reason together." This Greek physician and herbalist from the fourth century B.C. is considered the father of Western medicine.(Hence the "Hippocratic Oath" came into being.)

Hippocrates stressed the importance of proper diet, water quality, climate, and the social environment in the development of disease. He believed in treating the whole person rather than merely isolating and treating symptoms. He recognized the innate capacity of the body to heal itself, and emphasized the importance of keen observation in the medical practice. He recommended simple herbal remedies to assist the body in restoring health.

The richness of herbal medicine is apparent when you consider its history of use. In the first century AD, the Roman army doctor Dioscorides put together an amazing text, which became known as De Materia Medica, which outlined a huge number of medicinal plants and set the stage for similar texts for hundred of years to come.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy differs from Herbology in that it is based on the premise that minute dosages of plant,animal or mineral toxins can stimulate the body's various defense systems to respond to disease symptoms.

In reality, Homeopathy is a natural pharmaceutical science that utilizes substances from the plant, mineral, and animal kingdoms and is based on the premise that these naturally occurring substances can cure disease symptoms similar to those they produce if taken in overdose. Each medicine is individually prescribed according to how it stimulates the immune and defense systems of the sick person.

Origins

The founder of homeopathy was a physician from Germany named Samuel Hahnemann. He was born in 1755. Deeply disturbed in his medical convictions by the weakness of the therapeutic practices of the period, he gave up his medical practice to explore other alternatives and deepen his understanding.

Thus in 1790, while translating the 'materia medica' of a Scottish doctor by the name of Cullen his attention was drawn to an article discussing quinine. He found by experimenting on himself that the Chinchona bark (the source for Quinine) would cause toxicological symptoms such as fever attacks and various other disorders similar to those which it cured when used in small doses.

Struck by this concidence, Hahnemann continued to experiment and verified that this reaction mode observed with quinine could be repeated with many other substances. It was therefore no longer a "coincidence" but the considered a valid General Law.

Homeopathy is widely used in Europe today and is gaining more and more popularity in the United States. Homeopathic preparations are commercially available at most Health Food or Natural Food stores and are quite inexpensive.

Herbal Consultations

Due to other commitments and requirements
I am not presently conducting and dietary
or herbal counseling sessions.

Michael Meissner
Reiki Master Teacher/ Practitioner
Master Herbalist
PO Box 1376
Glendive, Montana 59330