The more authentic the information about Herbal Medicine you know, the more likely people are to consider you a Herbal Medicine expert - or someone to turn to when they need help. Read on for even more Herbal Medicine facts that you can share.

Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of healing that is known. It is also known as "botanical medicine" or "herbalism". This type of medicine began with the very early primitive cultures using different plant parts for shelter, clothing, and medicine. Herbal medicine is a "complementary" therapy that uses plants or plant extracts to treat illness and encourage wellbeing. It is an important part of keeping healthy - holistically and naturally. 80 percent of the world's population presently use herbal medicine for some aspects of primary health care.

Where are Herbs used?

Nearly every civilisation, including ancient cultures dating back thousands of years, has used herbs. Medicinal herbs were found in the personal effects of an "Ice man" whose body was frozen in the Swiss Alps for over 5,000 years. They appear to have been used to stop the parasites found in his intestines from causing illness. In early written records, the study of herbs can be seen to date back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who wrote about well-established medicinal uses for such plants as laurel, caraway, and thyme. It is important to note that the use of herbs continued for the centuries following the Middle Ages is indicated by the hundreds of pages of information on herbs published after the invention of printing in the fifteenth century.

Which Way to Use Herbs?

Herbs contain a large number of naturally occurring subtances that have been shown to have biological activity. They help the body strengthen its own resistance to infective organisms and throw off illness. Herbs can act on the body as powerfully as chemical drugs and should be treated with the same respect. Herbs can be prepared in a variety of forms depending on their purpose. They have been used in all cultures throughout history to restore balance by nourishing the body and have provided humankind with medicine from the earliest beginnings of civilization. Herbs contain a large number of naturally occurring chemicals that have biological activity.

Herbs can also have undesirable side effects just as pharmaceutical products can. Herbs may be harmful if taken for the wrong conditions, used in excessive amounts, combined with prescription drugs or alcohol, or used by persons who don't know what they are doing. Most herbal traditions have accumulated knowledge without modern scientific controls to distinguish between the placebo effect, the body's natural ability to heal itself, and the actual benefits of the herbs themselves.

Who Needs Herbs?

To use an herbal product as safely as possible consult your doctor or a trained herbalist or visit www.solgar.co.uk - before you begin. Do not take a larger dose than the label recommends. Take it under the guidance of someone trained in and experienced with herbal use. Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or nursing. Medicinal plants can be used by anyone, for example as part of a salad, an herbal tea or supplement. Many of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food yield useful medicinal compounds.

While herbal medicine is older than any other type of medical health care, it continues to influence the medicines of today. Herbal medicine has proven to be a massive benefit to mankind and has never been more popular than it is today.

You can dramatically improve your health and wellness as you begin to use complementary herbal medicines confidently and effectively.

You can't predict when knowing something extra about Herbal Medicine will come in handy. If you learned anything new about Herbal Medicine in this article, you should file the article where you can find it again.