Medical herbalism is a system of natural medicine using plant extracts and herbs to help treat physical and mental disorders. It is the oldest known form of medicine and is the origin of much of modern medicine many well-known drugs are derived from common plants. Today herbal medicine has formed the mainstay of healthcare for the majority of people, followed by strong tradition of the use of healing plants throughout all cultures from the ancient Greeks and Romans to the Chinese, India and First North Americans. Herbalism goes back some 60,000 years to a Neanderthal burial site uncovered in 1960. People used plants for healing which were not parts of their normal diet. In China, Huang Di, the legendary Yellow Emperor is credited with writing The Yellow Emperor’s classic of internal medicine (Huang Di Nei Jing), which lists 12 herbal prescriptions. The Egyptians are also renowned for the use of herbs, and official schools for herbalists existed in Egypt as early as 3000 BC. The Ebers Papyrus, written around 1500 BC and discovered in 1862, contains around 876 prescriptions made up of more than 500 different substances. Many of the founders of the ancient Greek schools of medicine owed their learning to the Egyptians. Hippocrates was tutored by Egyptian priest-doctors, and his writings mention over 250 medicinal plants. “Let your food be your medicine" a mantra said by Hippocrates, really describes the affinity of plants and the Digestive system. A vast body of Greco-Roman knowledge of herbs was preserved and enlarged upon by the Arabs. This knowledge, much of which had been lost to Europe in the Dark Ages, was reintroduced to Europe when the Crusaders returned from the Middle East. In India too, traditional medicine incorporated a large number of herbal remedies; the Indian Materia Medica, published in 1908, listed 2982 medicinal plants. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many Europeans immigrated to North America. These settlers discovered that the indigenous Indian population was skilled at using the native plants as medicines and they began to incorporate them into their own remedies.

Through the centuries, food has been our herbal medicine, the unique healing properties of the plants have a direct effect upon our Digestive process from beginning to end, not just through absorption, metabolism and elimination of plant chemicals, but they also have a direct action through tissue contact. Digestive conditions in our system are usually due to abuse. Processed foods, chemicals, additives, soft drinks, cigarettes, alcohol, irregular meals and just plain junk food create havoc in our over worked system creating innumerable conditions. Some of the herbs for the Digestive system will provide the soothing, astringency and toning required for some conditions. But it is really up to our individual changes and discipline that the herbs will provide us with the powerful healing results that they are capable of delivering. Plants with particular affinity for certain organs or systems of the body are used to ‘feed’ and restore to health those parts, which have become weakened. As the body is strengthened so is its power and ability to fight off disease and when balance and harmony are restored, health will be regained.

Medicinal plants can contain a variety of phytochemicals as well as minerals, vitamins and trace elements. Some of the phytochemicals are pharmacologically active and can exert a therapeutic action on the body. Plants with different properties are combined in a prescription tailored to the individual after taking a complete history and thorough physical examination from the patient to identify the problem. Herbal treatment is accompanied with advice on diet, exercise and any lifestyle changes that could possibly help to alleviate the condition. However, unlike conventional medicine, the ‘whole’ herb or plant is used rather than isolating and breaking down chemical compounds and then synthesizing it. This is because the plant, being a part of nature, is said to represent perfect balance; healing requires the natural combination of elements in the plant or herb, not just a single chemical within it. Sometimes the whole herb is used, sometimes just the root, flowers, stems, seeds or fruits, depending on which part is considered to have the most active medicinal action.

The major advantage that herbal medicine offers is that it can be preventive. There is a general concept that herbalism takes a long time and it cures mostly the chronic diseases but it is not so it acts on acute conditions too, just like Influenza and Tonsillitis and cystitis. Herbal medicines are very safe and effective when prescribed with a fully qualified herbal practitioner. The major advantage that herbal medicine offers is that it can be preventive. One of the great strengths of using the unrefined whole plant is that the active ingredient is given along with a number of other naturally occurring plant chemicals and this, in itself, makes the action of the active ingredient far safer and so diminishes the chance of unpleasant side effects. Limitations:

Herbal medicines are not given if females are pregnant or attempting to become pregnant. Herbal medicines are not handled by infants or children for the sake of avoiding complications of over dosage or it’s mishandling. In case of allergies to certain plants, pollen or flowers, similar types of herbs should not be taken.

It is popularly used in ailments like: Asthma, Allergies, hay fever, Skin ailments, premenstrual syndrome, hormonal imbalances, Gout, rheumatism, stress related disorders, Migraine, Insomnia, infertility, chronic fatigue, weight loss and treating Digestive conditions like Constipation, diarrhoea, Hemorrhoids, acid reflux / heartburn, dyspepsia / indigestion, wind, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, halitosis, Varicose veins, varicose ulcer, acute conditions (e.g. Influenza, Tonsillitis, cystitis).

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have no established definition for an herbal supplement. Although traditionally used as drugs, herbal products are generally unable to pass the stringent requirements imposed by the FDA for new molecular entities, such as new medications. In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was passed. The DSHEA defined dietary supplements as vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals or amino acids used to supplement the diet to increase total dietary intake. According to the DSHEA, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is prohibited from regulating dietary supplements as food additives. Makers of dietary supplements are permitted to make structure and function claims, but not therapeutic claims. For example, a St. John's wort product can claim to enhance mood, but it cannot state that it treats Depression. In addition, all dietary supplements must have the following warning about the functional claims: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration." Regulations: The National Institute of Medical Herbalists was set up in 1864 and remains the main registering and regulating body for Western herbal practitioners. Only graduates of approved courses are accepted on to the register, and a strict code of ethics is maintained. The European Herbal Practitioners Association, an umbrella body with about 1000 members, has been set up to encourage greater unity among herbalists.The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine is starting to fund clinical trials into the effectiveness of herbal medicine.