Not such a simple question: What is herbal medicine?

What is herbal medicine?  And what about iridology and naturopathy?

Well, herbal medicine is medicine using plants instead of drugs.  Simple, eh?  Thanks for stopping by and see you next time!

Except it's not that easy.  While it may be true to say that herbalists use plants instead of drugs, that rather glib introductory phrase doesn't begin to touch upon the rich and varied threads that weave the tapestry of herbal medicine past, present and future.  Neither does it acknowledge that pharmaceutical medicine would not exist without plant-derived chemicals, which represent some of its most important weapons even in 2015.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

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An introduction to herbal medicine, iridology and naturopathy

What I'm going to do over the next weeks and months is try to answer, in as many ways as possible, a question that keeps popping up for myself and other natural health practitioners of my acquaintance: namely, what exactly is herbal medicine?  Isn't it the same as homeopathy?  (Spoilers: No.)  For that matter, what are these other odd things you practise – naturopathy and iridology?  How are they different from mainstream medicine, and why should I even consider coming to see a herbalist or naturopath?

Fascinating questions all, and ones that simply can't be answered in the space of a single article.  So I thought I'd take a leisurely stroll with you through some of the history of herbal medicine, naturopathy and iridology, while also explaining some of the principles involved.  Not only will this be useful for you – I hope! – I'm bound to learn a lot myself along the way.  There's no grand, overarching plan involved; rather, I'm just going to approach subjects as seems natural and appropriate, or as it 'flows', as a friend of mine is fond of saying.

Herbal medicine uses plants as medicine

Let us count the ways: ever heard of a herbal tincture?  How about an electuary?  Or an oxymel?  As well as these, some of the more exotic and esoteric ways herbalists have employed over the centuries include elixirs, aromatic waters, flower essences, compresses, infused oils, herbal wines and honeys, decoctions, pessaries and poultices, to the more recognisable powders, tablets, capsules, essential oils, syrups, teas, creams, ointments, lotions and liniments, herbalists have a glittering array of tools available to them.  (And I'm sure I've missed some out...)  Not to mention whole plant parts!

Herbal medicine is where the material and energetic combine

Herbs are formed of an amazing array of fascinating chemicals, many of which we're only just beginning to understand.  The modern pharmaceutical industry in all its, erm, 'glory' would not exist without the contribution of plant-derived chemicals.  To the herbalist, those chemicals are best deployed in their natural state, as part of the organic matrix of connected and codependent substances that exist in the plants themselves, rather than as purified individual chemical species.  And yet it's possible to elicit incredible healing responses from drop doses of herbs; there is more to the healing power of plants than their chemistry alone.  A subtle energetic component is there to be harnessed that surrounds and suffuses the gross materiality of plant material.

Traditional medicine's energetic 'maps of the world'

Speaking of energetics, all ancient traditional systems of medicine have their own their own maps for describing the world based on the energies within and around us.  Ayurveda, from the Indian subcontinent, has the concept of the doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha.  Traditional Chinese medicine has the infinite complexity of the yin and the yang, and the energetic meridians tapped into by acupuncture.  Despite their widespread disuse in the modern era, Western herbal medicine has the concept of the humours and the elements they govern: blood and air, phlegm and water, black bile and earth and yellow bile and fire.  Some modern Western herbalists are now rehabilitating these ancient concepts.  As well as these 'constitutional' energetic systems, all traditional medical practises have ways to describe the properties of herbs energetically: for example, the degree to which they are hot or cold, moist or dry.  For the practising herbalist, these concepts are often more powerful than the purely physical descriptions offered by reductionist science.

Herbs, spirituality, shamanism and magic

Herbal medicine can be a guide to the spiritual universe and to the spirit world of shamanism.  Folklore such as putting agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) leaves under pillow to induce a deep sleep attest to the magic(k)al properties of herbs.  Plants have their own language that speaks to the willing observer, the 'doctrine of signatures' that offers clues to how the herb may be used to cure what ails thee physically, emotionally and even spiritually.

Downloading knowledge from the plants themselves

Herbal medicine has been learned over millennia by a humanity well versed in trial and error – or has it?  Ancient and traditional cultures claim that their knowledge of plant medicine comes direct from the plants themselves, a mode of thinking echoed by enlightened thinkers including Goethe and, in the modern era, Stephen Harrod Buhner.  Is that possible that we have the innate ability, once practised and developed, to connect directly with the plants themselves?  If so, how better to understand the healing powers of the verdant world than to hear from the very keepers of the information?

More questions than answers.  An ancient wooden door, protected by a stone arch cracked and worried by the passing of aeons.  Behind lies a flagged staircase, worn smooth by countless feet.  A shifting emerald radiance shines on the brickwork of the corridor from the unseen destination below.  Shall we explore?