Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy. The scope of herbal medicine is sometimes extended to include fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts.

Many plants synthesize substances that are useful to the maintenance of health in humans and other animals. These include aromatic substances, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives such as tannins. Many are secondary metabolites, of which at least 12,000 have been isolated — a number estimated to be less than 10% of the total. In many cases, these substances (particularly the alkaloids) serve as plant defense mechanisms against predation by microorganisms, insects, and herbivores. Many of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food yield useful medicinal compounds

Science is just beginning to uncover the myriad benefits and countless applications of various herbs and herbal extracts in conjunction with a healthy diet and lifestyle.  As the benefits of herbal supplements are becoming more widely known and accepted, more and more people are turning to these natural remedies instead of pharmaceutical drugs to improve their health and promote general well-being.

Herbal products are an integral part of eastern medicine, and their benefits have been known for centuries.  Herbal products can promote general health and well-being by aiding in digestion, providing antioxidant protection, boost energy, supplement the immune system, support memory and neural processes, reduce stress and improve vision.  Herbal products can also be used to enhance sexual libido and promote tranquility and general sense of well being.

Herbal products are generally safe, but some interact with each other.  It is important to talk with a doctor trained in herbal medicine before you combine herbs or take herbs with conventional western medications.

Herbal products such as aloe vera, bitter orange, milk thistle, ginger root, gingko biloba, green tea, black cohosh, and dong quai are well known for their power in fighting disease.  Natural food stores and vitamin shop’s shelves are lined with herbs, so many that often, the consumer is overwhelmed with a variety of herbs that are available on the shelf.

The problem with the increased popularity of herbal medicine comes with their regulation, or lack thereof.  Herbal nutritional supplements are not strictly regulated in the United States, making their safety, efficacy or even the true content of their ingredients subject to scrutiny.  For many products, there is no guarantee of the quantity or quality of the herb included.  There is no way for you to know if it is organic, or pesticide free, or even fresh.

Working with an integrative MD can help you sort out what herbs you need and what products are quality products worth your hard earned dollar. 

Role of Herbal Products in modern human society

The use of herbs to treat disease is almost universal among non-industrialized societies. A number of traditions came to dominate the practice of herbal medicine at the end of the twentieth century:

The "classical" herbal medicine system, based on Greek and Roman sources
The Siddha and Ayurvedic medicine systems from various South Asian Countries
Chinese herbal medicine (Chinese herbology) (zhōngyào)
Unani-Tibb medicine
Shamanic herbalism: a catch-all phrase for information mostly supplied from South America and the Himalayas

The use of, and search for, drugs and dietary supplements derived from plants have accelerated in recent years. Pharmacologists, microbiologists, botanists, and natural-products chemists are combing the Earth for phytochemicals and leads that could be developed for treatment of various diseases. In fact, according to the World Health Organisation, approximately 25% of modern drugs used in the United States have been derived from plants.

Three quarters of plants that provide active ingredients for prescription drugs came to the attention of researchers because of their use in traditional medicine.
Among the 120 active compounds currently isolated from the higher plants and widely used in modern medicine today, 80 percent show a positive correlation between their modern therapeutic use and the traditional use of the plants from which they are derived.
More than two thirds of the world's plant species - at least 35,000 of which are estimated to have medicinal value - come from the developing countries.
At least 7,000 medical compounds in the modern pharmacopoeia are derived from plants