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Herbal Medicines

History

The practice of healing ailments using the herbs and naturally available things is known as herbal medicine. This term is also famous by the name of herbalism, or even herbology. Sometimes even the use of fungal and bee products are also used in herbal medicines to extend its scope.

People all over the world use plant and plants products as medicines. Different plant and plant products are synthesized and used for treating ailments of the human and other living beings. The study of herbs as medicines dates back to about 5000 yrs. It is believed that the Indian ayurveda has been using herbs and plants as a medicine since the 1900 B.C.

The range of medical treatment by herbal medicines range from simple ailments like cold and cough, allergy, weight loss to complex treatments such as respiratory problems, heart problems, diabetes,

How do herbs work?

It is very difficult to actually conclude what in an herb has the therapeutic quality. It is therefore believed that the medicinal quality of an herb depends on the conditions it grew in, the harvesting period and also its synthesis.

How are herbs used?

As the working of herbs is not clearly understood, herbal therapists do not use specific parts of an herb as a medicine but the complete herb. All the plant extracts work together to cure the desired disease. Combination of herbs and plant components are used to produce the therapeutic effect. Being natural these herbs are believed to have no side effects.

Why Use Herbal Medicines?

Herbal medicines help the patient to be treated with a reduced amount of risk and adverse reaction with respect to allopathic medication. Any side effects of herbal medicines are very well documented and are of very minute effect. And the fact the herbal medicines are much more cheaply available makes them a very less taxing and costly.

Information about some common herbs is available in the menu on the left hand side of the page.