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Herbs - A History of Healing
By strict definition, an herb is a plant whose stem is soft and dies down to the ground after flowering. However, the term "herb" is often applied more generally to any plant, part or all of which has been used to flavor food, supplement nutrition or treat medical illnesses. Historically, the most important uses of herbs were medicinal.3 In 1985, the World Health Organization estimated that 80 per cent of the world's population rely on herbs for their primary healthcare needs.4
From prehistoric times to the twentieth century, plants have been the basic source of therapeutic products for professional and folk medicine. The first written record of herbs dates back more than 5,000 years to the Sumerians who describe medicinal uses of plants such as laurel, caraway and thyme. The earliest book on herbal remedies - a Chinese listing of 365 medicinal plants and their applications - dates back to 2700 BC. In 1000 BC, the Egyptians used garlic, opium, castor oil, mint and other herbs as medicine. The Romans and Greeks also valued plants for their medicinal benefits and records of their medical practices provided inspiration for later Western medical learning.5
Herbs continued to play an important medicinal role during the Middle Ages and reached new heights in the fifteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries when several herbals, or books on herbs, were published - many for the first time in English and languages other than Latin or Greek.6 However, thereafter, the use of herbs as therapeutic products slowly diminished.7
Synthetic chemicals become dominant
The introduction of active chemical drugs such as arsenic, iron and mercury in the seventeenth century, followed by the rapid development of the sciences such as chemistry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, led to the dominance of chemical therapy in the twentieth century.8 The mainstream scientific community turned away from the plant world as the source of medicines, and looked to synthetic chemicals for the future.9
In addition, healthcare providers and consumers who were still interested in herbal medicine became disillusioned with herbal products because they did not appear to be reliably effective on an ongoing basis. It was discovered that many products were not consistently manufactured or quality control tested, and did not always contain appropriate amounts of the therapeutic ingredients.10
By the early 1960s, consumers saw that modern chemical therapy was not a panacea and once again began to consider herbal medicines and other alternative forms of therapy, including naturopathy and homeopathy.11
This, along with the belief that botanical remedies were "naturally" superior to man-made drugs, produced "a wave of enthusiasm and promotion on the part of the public which can only be described as an herbal renaissance."12
However, quality of herbal products continued to be a critical issue. Without quality control, there was no assurance that the herb contained in the bottle was the same as what was stated on the outside.
Addressing the quality control issue
Athens cheap hotels In recent years, manufacturers and suppliers of herbal products have made great strides in addressing the quality control problem. With improvements in laboratory and manufacturing technology, manufacturers are now able to determine necessary levels of the active ingredients in herbal products and to manufacture consistently with these levels.13
Ongoing quality control testing, both of the raw materials used and of the finished products, ensures the levels are met. Herbal products manufactured in this scientific manner are deemed to be "standardized," and can be counted on for safety and effectiveness. Companies supplying standardized products offer the greatest degree of quality control, hence these products typically offer the safest and highest quality.14
Recognition of the value of herbal products
Over the twentieth century, countries such as Germany, Great Britain, France, China and Japan have come to recognize herbal products as valid remedies, and these are often incorporated in conventional medical practice.15 For example, in 1933, a law was passed in Germany granting to herbalists and naturopaths almost equivalent status with qualified doctors and surgeons.16 Today, the science of herbal medicine is far advanced in Germany. For years, a committee in the Federal Department of Health has been reviewing the safety and efficacy of herbs and publishing the results in monographic form - these monographs represent some of the most current and useful information on plant drugs.17
In Great Britain, two publications have become the "gold standard" for the practice of herbal medicine in the English-speaking world - the "British Herbal Compendium" and the "British Herbal Pharmacopoeia".
Canada is also reviewing safety and regulatory control mechanisms for herbs and botanical preparations sold as food and used for medicinal purposes. In 1985, the Health Protection Branch (HPB) of Health Canada established an Expert Advisory Committee on Herbs and Botanical Preparations to examine current practices and to make recommendations.18
After meeting in 1985 and reconvening in 1993, the committee recommended that nine herbs and botanical preparations be listed as food adulterants, and others sold as food be listed as requiring cautionary labeling concerning their use during pregnancy.19 In the case of herbs and botanical preparations used for medicinal purposes, the committee recommended that a drug monograph system be developed to facilitate the registration of traditional herbal medicines as non-prescription drugs and an Editorial Review Board be established to review developed monographs.20 These recommendations are still in the government review process.
Role of herbal medicine in healthcare today
Needless to say, herbs and herbal medicine have played, and will continue to play, an important role in health care practices. Today, plants are readily acknowledged as the original source of valuable modern medicines - morphine from the opium poppy, digitalis from the foxglove plant, ephedrine from the ephedra (ma-huang) plant, acetylsalicylic acid from the bark of the white willow tree, along with many others. Researchers are continuing to investigate more species for future therapeutic application.21
The resurgence of interest in herbal medicine shows every promise of continuing its rapid development through the 1990s.22 Perhaps the major reason for this renewed interest in herbalism is society's new emphasis on preventive medicine. Today we recognize that lifestyle and nutrition play significant roles in preventing disease. There is a growing recognition that herbs can also play a vital role in promoting wellness.23
References
1. Quest Vitamins (1995).
2. HerbalGram (Summer 1994). Number 31. Page 9. American Botanical Council and Herb Research Foundation, Austin, Texas
3. Lust John (1974). The Herb Book. Page 3.Bantam books/Benedict Lust Publications, New York, New York
4. Farnsworth N et al. (1985). Medicinal plants in therapy. Bull World Health Org 63:965-81
5. Lust John (1974). The Herb Book. Page 4. Bantam Books/Benedict Lust Publications, New York, New York
6. Lust John. Ibid. Page 5
7. Lust John. ibid. Page 6
8. Lust John. ibid. Page 6
9. Griggs, Barbara (1981). Green Pharmacy. The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine. Page 263. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, Vermont
accommodation inn Bourgas 10. Werbach Melvyn R., Murray Michael T.(1994). Botanical influences on Illness. A source book of clinical research. Page 7.Third line Press, Tarzana, California
11. Griggs Barbara (1981). Green Pharmacy. The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine. Page 284. Healing Arts Press, Rochester, Vermont
12. Tyler Varro E. (1993). The Honest Herbal. A Sensible Guide to The Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. Third Edition. Page 1. Pharmaceutical Products Press, Binghamton, NY
13. Werbach Melvyn R., Murray Michael T. (1994). Botanical Influences on Illness. A source book of clinical research.Hamburg hotels Page 9. Third Line Press, Tarzana, California
14. Werbach Melvyn R., Murray Michael T. ibid. Page 9
15. Mindell Earl (1992). hotel a BratislavaEarl Mindell's Herb Bible. Page 15. Simon & Schuster/Fireside, New York, New York
16. Griggs Barbara (1981). Green Pharmacy. The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine. Page 275. Healing Arts Press, Rochester Vermont
17. Tyler Varro E. (1993). The Honest Herbal. A Sensible Guide to The Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. Third Edition. Page 15. Pharmaceutical Products Press, Binghamton, NY
18. Tyler Varro E. ibid. Page 16
19. Second Report of the Expert Advisory Committee on Herbs and Botanical Preparations. (1993). Health Canada. Page 4,5
20. Ibid. Page 6
21. Mindell Earl (1992). Earl Mindell's Herb Bible. Page 12. Simon & Schuster/Fireside, New York, New York
22. Tyler Varro E. (1993). The Honest Herbal. A Sensible Guide to The Use of Herbs and Related Remedies. Third Edition. Page 1. Pharmaceutical Products Press, Binghamton, NY
23. Mindell Earl (1992). Earl Mindell's Herb Bible. Page 15. Simon & Schuster/Fireside, New York, New York
Administration
Many terms are used regarding dosage and administration of herbs. Following is a listing of the most common terms:
Standardization: Many herbal products now exist where a specific concentration of 'active' constituent is guaranteed in any specific amount of preparation. The product may still contain the complete herb or plant part used, but not necessarily in the same proportions as in its natural form. This system is particularly established in certain European countries and because of its specific nature is appealing to orthodox medical practitioners. While useful, it should be remembered that the action of the plant often does not depend on one solitary component and that different constituents may act synergistically.
Herbal Tincture: This is a medicinal preparation where the plant material has been macerated or percolated in an hydroalcoholic solution. The percentage of alcohol varies from 25% to 90% depending on the plant in question. While the most common proportion of plant material in solution is 1:5, this concentration can vary from 1:3 to 1:10 depending on the herb. Though tinctures can be made from other solvents, such as vinegar, this is rarely seen in pharmacy practice.
If the alcohol content is of concern, the tincture can be taken in warm water and the alcohol allowed to evaporate away.
Liquid Extract: Similar to a tincture, but more concentrated. One part by volume of preparation is equivalent to one part by weight of the original herb.
Herbal Tea: This generic term usually refers to either a decoction or an infusion. An infusion is simply the steeping of the plant material in hot water and is often used for leaves, flowers and non-fibrous stems. A decoction is reserved for woody plant materials, where the plant material is boiled for usually 10 to 15 minutes.
Glycerite: A 'tincture' where glycerin is used instead of alcohol.
Dosage
Generally, there exists a broad suggested dose range for specific herbs within the practice of herbal medicine, especially with regard to botanical tinctures and fluid extracts. It is fair to say that suggested dosages from European texts are larger than those from North American references. The European sources quote dosage in milliliters or teaspoonfuls whereas the North American are in drops.
The dose ranges quoted in this work are from the "British Herbal Compendium", unless otherwise stated, due to the lack of an equivalent North American text. These dosages are usually higher than those seen in practice in Canada. Even though North American dose regimens are often far below a level necessary to deliver a pharmacological dose, anecdotally they enjoy an apparent successful reputation.
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