Western herbal medicine
“Nature itself is the best medicine.”
Hippocrates
Discover a range of articles on plants, herbs and medical herbalism, including herbal medicine projects, controversial topics, like herbal sustainability, and informative pieces such as What is herbal medicine? and Where is the herbal evidence?
How does herbal medicine fit into the German healthcare system?
How accessible is herbal medicine in Germany? Jonas Brab explores the regulation and integration...
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The integration of biomedicine and herbal medicine: A comparison of cost and application
How do biomedicine and herbal medicine currently coexist and how could we develop an...
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Supporting doctors: How herbs can help reduce opioid use in chronic pain
Opioid drugs are effective analgesia for acute conditions, yet bring risk of tolerance and...
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A campaign against antibiotics: The Soil Association
This article explores the impact of modern farming practices on animal welfare and the...
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Pharmacology of herbal antibiotics
Our ability to treat bacterial infection using pharmaceuticals is jeopardised by antibiotic resistance. How...
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The brain as a vascular organ: Framing new herbal strategies for supporting the nervous system
What are the implications of perfusion on brain health? Simon Mills explores cerebral development,...
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What has caused the rise of neurodegeneration and what can we do?
This article explores factors contributing to the development of neurodegenerative disease and lifestyle and...
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Excerpt from The Healing Power of Scent by Ellen Rowland
Aromatherapist Ellen Rowland shares a section from her book on what smell is and...
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The role of herbalism in preventative medicine
Through the regulatory effects of medicinal plants, herbalism offers valuable tools for promoting health...
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An introduction to herbal energetics
Herbal energetics are the descriptions Herbalists have given to plants based on the direct...
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Herbal treatment for IBS
IBS is a common debilitating condition that can be treated effectively with herbs. We...
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The sustainability of echinacea within herbal medicine
Echinacea is one of the most popular herbal medicines, but its popularity has come...
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The sustainability of liquorice
Liquorice is one of the most valued herbal medicines globally, yet its population sizes...
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5 herbs instead of antibiotics
The overuse of antibiotics has meant that our pharmaceutical antibiotics do not work as...
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5 herbs instead of anti-anxiety medications
Anxiety is prevalent amongst many people, especially after the rise of chronic stress. We...
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Sleep: How it works and herbs to support it
Healthy sleep is essential for all bodily systems, and crucial for mental and emotional...
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Medicine making with children: Recipes to try at home
Making herbal medicines is a great way to empower children with self-care knowledge. We...
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Exploring the ancient history of Western Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine has been used for thousands of years and has a fascinating and...
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Herbal treatment of children: A holistic overview of children’s health
Herbal medicines are a safe and effective way to treat an array of children’s...
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Healing muscles and joints with essential oils: Recipes from an aromatherapist
All of us need relief from sore muscles and joints from time to time,...
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Western herbal classifications glossary
We put together a list of the most important Western herbal medicine terms in...
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Inflammation: The global epidemic we should be worried about
In herb book Inflammation, Christine Herbert discusses the complex networks which create chronic inflammation...
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Essential oils and sustainability: Challenges, opportunities, solutions
Essential oils are brilliant medicines, but problems in industry mean that they are not...
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Chaga (Inonotus obliquus): A mushroom with many medicinal properties
Medicinal fungi like chaga have boomed in popularity in recent years. Matthew Clark shares...
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A beginner’s guide to growing medicinal herbs
Growing herbal medicines is a very enriching practise, which supports our wellbeing in its...
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Mental health and men: A herbalist’s perspective
How herbal medicine can support resilience, healing and transformation.
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How to become a Herbalist
There are many things to think about when training in herbalism.
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The rise of herbalism: Why people are turning to nature for medicines
Medicinal plant scientist Rebecca Lazarou dives into why herbal medicines are fast gaining popularity.
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The 3 types of echinacea: A comparison of medicinal actions
Ruth Weaver explores the 3 types of echinacea and their different medicinal actions.
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The history of ephedra: A powerful lung medicine from China
Ethnobotanist Jason Irving explores ephedra's use as a treatment for asthma.
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Winter warmers: Aromatherapy for respiratory health in cold and flu season
Aromatherapist Ellen Rowland explores how essential oils directly affect the respiratory system.
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Essential oils for treating inflammation: An aromatherapist’s perspective
Aromatherapist Ellen Rowland takes a look at treatment strategies of inflammation with essential oils.
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Toward a sustainable future for frankincense: An ancient medicine in a modern world
Dr. Anjanette DeCarlo and Stephen Johnson explore the many changes the sustainable trade in...
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A brief history of herbal quality assessment: From ancient Rome to 21st century mitochondria
Quality control has been an issue for as long as humans have used herbs...
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Endangered plants and women’s health: Fertility herbs at risk
Susan Leopold, Executive Director at United Plant Savers, discusses why plants used for women's...
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Botanical drugs and supplements that may be safe and useful in COVID-19
Mark Blumenthal explores the misapprehensions surrounding the safety and efficacy of herbal ingredients to...
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The metabolic crisis and what we can do about it
Robert Verkerk discusses key factors associated with metabolic disease and treatment approaches.
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How to search for herbal science research: Top tips and techniques
Viv Rolfe explains where to look for good quality herbal research, and how to...
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Too many pills, not enough roots
Herbalist Edward Thompson discusses the role of herbal medicine in patient self-care and reducing...
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The art and science of herbal formulation: Western herbal medicine
We explore how formulations and medicine making of traditional medicine in the west has...
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The art and science of herbal formulation: Ayurvedic formulation
Herbalist Sebastian Pole explores the creation of Ayurvedic formulas which is based on some...
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Cannabis: A folk remedy in Europe
The cannabis plant is extraordinarily versatile: it can be used for textiles, oil, food,...
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The art and science of herbal formulation: An introduction
The art & science of herbal formulation can be viewed as a pinnacle of...
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Why there is such an increase in allergies and what herbalism can do about it
People are having stronger symptoms and more hypersensitivity allergic reactions. Vilma Matuleviciute explores why...
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Can we integrate traditional knowledge and modern science?
Roy Upton explores if, and how, we can integrate the knowledge from traditional herbal...
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Environmental sustainability of medicinal plants
Roy Upton explores how traditional healing systems have developed in developing countries compared to...
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Pharmacopoeias in codifying quality of herbal medicines
Roy Upton explores the history of pharmacopoeias and their important role in herbal medicine.
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Traditional herbal medicines: Centuries of Empiricism
Roy Upton explores how the true level of medicine is only revealed through empirical...
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The most advanced medicine in the world and the worst health statistics to show for it: America
Roy Upton explores the role of herbal medicine in America's healthcare system.
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Economic influences of medical evolution
Roy Upton explores why today’s desire to fit traditional herbal medicines into a modern...
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Historical perspectives on traditional herbal medicine
The dynamic relationship between humans, plants, and the environment overall has been captured in...
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Traditional herbal medicine, pharmacognosy, and pharmacopoeial standards: A discussion at the crossroads
Despite the development of modern medicines in the past few hundred years, herbal medicine...
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Kratom leaf: An alternative to opioids for chronic pain management?
With the exploration of alternative routes for managing chronic pain, we take a look...
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First do no harm: A call for sustainable herbalism in clinical practice
Josef Brinckmann explores what it takes to make a herbal medicine practice part of...
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Medicinal mushrooms: An introduction
Neither plants nor animals but sharing characteristics of both, mushrooms have much to offer...
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The relevance of complementary and integrative medicine in the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative review of the literature
In light of the adverse health risks faced both at the population and individual...
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The role of adaptogens in prophylaxis and treatment of viral respiratory infections
Adaptogens are a class of botanicals that offer promise in the prevention and adjunctive...
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Botanical drugs and supplements affecting the immune response
In times of health crisis, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, the potential benefit of...
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Herbs suitable for diabetics
Type 2 diabetes is increasingly common in industrially developed societies. Simon Mills explores the...
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Psilocybin and depression: Where are we currently at with the psilocybin revolution?
Collective efforts by researchers, scientists & psychedelic activists bring in major changes with the...
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Ephedra: ma huang or ephedrine? A lesson for herbal practitioners
Ephedra is a valuable herb. It is however banned in the USA. We take...
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5 herbs to enhance your mood in winter
These five herbs bring the comforting qualities of nature inside us helping lift our...
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Back to the future: How plant medicine can save us from antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics have undoubtedly saved millions of lives but the assumption that they are safe...
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Do you know where your herbs come from?
Do you know how herbs for herbal medicine are harvested and by whom? Paying...
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Are herbs safe?
In this review we understand that herbs are not a public hazard, and that...
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What is herbal medicine?
Herbs are very well suited to expert personalised health care, and were the basis...
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Where is the herbal evidence?
How our use of herbs is founded on both science and intelligence.
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Healing the Whole
How herbs are changing the face of the world through a holistic approach to...
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Green gold: The incredible benefits of matcha
Matcha is a unique form of bright emerald green tea. Here we discuss its...
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Healthy oils: Good and bad fats
Fat can be healthy, you just have to pick the right ones. We will...
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Healthy weight
Maintaining a balanced body weight and appearance is a constant pressure in the modern...
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Ayurveda and immunity: Thriving the Ayurvedic way
Ayurveda presents some excellent philosophy and guidance on how we can maintain a healthy...
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The joys of being a vegetarian
The vegetarian world is a colourful, nutritious and exciting place; perhaps more than you...
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The birth of nutraceuticals
Find out how nutraceuticals first evolved and are now a booming industry bringing the...
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Adaptogens: Herbs to manage stress and stressful situations
Adaptogens help the body to adapt, adjust and recalibrate itself depending on our emotional...
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Tea: The original health drink?
So, is tea drinking good for you? As is so often the case when...
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Does intuition play a role in modern herbal practice?
We discuss the value of intuition and how it relates to modern herbal practice.
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What is detoxification?
Traditional systems of healthcare have used purification and cleansing techniques for centuries, here we...
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Perceptions of herbal medicine in the media
Do we abandon the potential benefits of botanicals to uphold outdated prejudices, or do...
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Our caffeine and sugar culture: How to combat cravings naturally
We discuss some home truths about sugar, coffee and caffeine including its origins, evolution...
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Plants: Love ’em or loathe ’em, we can’t live without ’em!
Plant foods, herbs and spices, are all about information. Our bodies use the information...
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Fair for plants as well as people
Pat Thomas discusses how we can meet the ever-increasing demand for herbal medicines in...
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Pyrrolizidine alkaloids: What you need to know
What are pyrrolizidine alkaloids, are they dangerous and what is being done to reduce...
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Turmeric: An old world, modern-day panacea or state-of-the-art sports medicine?
Robert Verkerk explores why turmeric and its medicinal actions has won so many advocates...
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Herbal festival survival guide
Explore our top herbal tips for making the most out of your festival and...
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