I first discovered Herbal Medicine over 15 years ago, by way of Aromatherapy and through my own search for a self-cure. After practicing Aromatherapy for a couple of years, I remember thinking to myself one day, “If essential oils can achieve this externally, imagine what the whole plant can achieve internally!”

The Herbalist’s Philosophy
The herbalist’s philosophy comprises the fact that humans, like plants, are biologically complex. This means that to achieve a long lasting medicinal benefit with few or no side effects, a plant with its complex active principles will be utilised by the body more easily than a single isolated drug.

A major aspect of the philosophy of the medical herbalist is in the treatment of the person as a whole, rather than treating mere symptoms in an isolated part of the body. We are called Medical Herbalists due to the many hours involved training in anatomy and physiology, biochemistry and clinical medicine. Many of these subjects are taught to us by Medical Doctors.

Herbalists use the whole herb. In fact, use of the whole herb is the very foundation of herbal medicine. We know that the whole part of a plant, be it the berries, roots or leaves etc, is the most powerful part of the plant, in its entirety, having a gentle but long lasting effect.
A similarity of both orthodox and herbal medicine is that they both work at a bio-chemical level within the human body. Many orthodox medications are synthesized, copying active phytochemical constituents from plants.Perhaps the most famous example of this is aspirin, which was originally isolated and refined from the white willow herb (Salix species).

Who Uses Herbal Medicine?
According to the WHO (World Health Organization) approximately 80% of the world’s population uses herbal medicine in some form and in some part of their primary health care. Infants, toddlers, children, adults, the elderly and animals can all take herbal medicine. Pregnant women under supervision can also take herbal medicine. Certain remedies promote a healthy full-term pregnancy, reduce the likelihood of haemorrhaging during birth as well as reduce the likelihood of post natal depression. Herbal Medicine has so much to offer and many doctors are beginning to witness the need to understand how herbal medicines and other complementary therapies can help people on their journey to whole health.

The Medical Herbalist & Live Blood Assessment
A medical herbalist will use iridology, tongue and nail assessment in order to make a naturopathic assessment of an individual. Some herbalists will also use live blood assessment (LBA) or Hemaview with a dark field microscope that helps to determine the health status of an individual. Using only one drop of your blood, the practitioner will use LBA to investigate the size, shape and ratio of your red cells, white cells and platelets in your blood. The blood magnified and viewed in this manner can reveal your current health status involving your cardio-vascular system, digestive system, any possible liver stress or pathology, your nutritional status and immune function, potential inflammation and oxidation, existing allergies and/or infestation (parasites) that have permeated the level of the blood. If parasites are at the level of the blood we can assume that they are likely to be thriving in the digestive organs.

Conditions For Herbal Treatment
A whole range of digestive complaints respond very nicely to herbal medicine, as do fatigue and immune-related disorders. Herbs have a particular affinity with the female reproductive organs (period pain, endometriosis, fibroids etc) and there are certain herbs which shrink enlarged prostrates and strengthen weak and failing kidneys. I have seen herbs benefit serious lung infections and clear symptoms of hay fever and sinusitis. In fact I cannot of think of one area of the human condition where herbal medicines cannot be of benefit.

Miriam Young, Medical Herbalist practices from Flourish Remedies, Herbal Pharmacy in Doonan, 07 5449 1130. Live Blood Assessments are available. The next Detox For Life Health Retreat runs from the 17th-25th April 2010.