Herbology is the study of botanicals and their use in healing.

   Herbal medicine employs many different types of plants ranging in strength from herbs, which can be taken with relative safety, to plants that may have toxicity and should be used only by trained professionals. In the United States herbal medicine usually refers to the use of plants that are indigenous to Europe and Northern America. There are, on the other hand, many different disciplines of herbal medicine including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which uses plants native to China and Asia and Ayurvedic herbal medicine, which uses plants native to India. Herbal Medicine is the oldest known form of medicine and has been around since the earliest writings of our ancestors in the treatment of the common maladies that our early relations regularly encountered. Every culture utilized some form of herbal medicine. In fact, medical doctors in the United States were trained in herbal medicine up until the early 1900’s. Herbology is the foundation that all our modern day pharmaceuticals are based upon. The difference being that through technology and refinement the medicinal compounds originally found in herbs have been carefully extracted and broken down, often synthesized to create advanced substances to treat illness in today’s modern world. In short the use of the term herbology is seen more as healing, balancing and harmonizing the body, where as modern medicine approaches its perspective as a cure using pharmacology as one of its main weapons.

   Long ago when one of our first ancestors were ill or hurt they went to the tribal shaman, or witch doctor, or weed woman. Upon diagnosis they were then given a local herb, often something we now consider a weed, which effectively treated their woe and allowed them to return to a state of balance and homeostasis. These witch doctors or weed women trained through long apprenticeships to learn and understand the herbs of their region as well as the illnesses of their time. They then treated the person as a whole in body, mind and spirit, aiding the body to repair itself, supporting that healing process. They knew when to pick what herb, where to find it, how to prepare it and how to use it with combinations of other herbs to return the body to harmony. These were learned and respected individuals within their communities.

   Many physicians in the United States either do not value the herbal approach to healthcare, or simply do not understand herbology in its role of prevention and use in chronic health ailments, and so, in turn, do not validate its effectiveness. In fact, many physicians of our day shun the very fact that not too long ago their forefathers of medicine were well versed in the art of herbology. In my collection of herbal texts I have a book copyright 1916, “Library of health: Complete Guide to Prevention and Cure of Disease”, volume 1, 1922 edition edited by B. Frank Scholl, Ph.G., MD, Historical Publishing Co., Philadelphia, PA which has within its 1774 pages chapters on preventative medicine, curative medicine, and countless pages dedicated to medicinal plants and organic (vegetable) materials treating tonsillitis to cancer. Under its eleven chapters of “Medical Schools” it discusses in quite some depth homeopathy, osteopathy, massage, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, Japanese culture based treatments, German culture based treatments and more of which all include botanical approaches to treatment. These treatments were not only common treatments of the day, but were supported by physicians of the day by evidence of sanction by the editing of the book by B. Frank Scholl, Ph.G., MD. Many of these common treatments are as effective today as they were in 1916. And all of them can be learned and used in nearly every household in modern America.

   So what has changed from 1916 to today? The medical community tends to lean toward "scientifically" based remedies instead. Now, there is nothing wrong with allopathic medicine, but today we truly need to integrate both styles of medicine. We need to understand both styles of medicine, for each has strengths and weaknesses.

   As a society, each one of us must become our own advocate. We must study and research treatments on both sides of the fence and decide what treatment works best for us. We must discard the old notion that the physician is in total control of our health, and we must become empowered to ask questions, research and both say no and demand the treatment of our choice. In turn we must utilize the provider as a tool, a member in our team of healthcare practitioners.

   It all begins with research. As for Herbology there are great books on the market, there are training courses in Herbology, and yes there is the Internet (but take the information from many sources and do not take any information at face value). And of course there are certified herbalists, flower essence practitioners, acupuncturists, and naturopaths whose skill and knowledge can help you. In the next few issues I hope to share with you more about herbology so that you can you can begin educating yourself on this art, which is coming back into popularity here in the United States.

   Christopher Bashaw is a registered nurse with 24 years experience specializing in integrative medicine. Christopher currently is seeing patients at the Mizu Tama Dojo and White Lotus Healing Arts Clinic in Rochester, NH as well as Pinewood Medical Center at the Pinewood Healing Arts Center in Somersworth, NH. http://www.freewebs.com/mizu_tama_dojo.