Herbal Medicine

Herbal Medicine

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)


Alternative medicine:: used in place of conventional medicine using special diet to treat cancer instead of chemotherapy, surgery, etc... Complementary medicine: used together with conventional medicine using aroma therapy to relieve discomfort following surgery
Definitions

What is CAM?

Complementary and alternative medicine is the treatment of disease using methods other than recognised/conventional medicine. Often not adequately clinically trialled Might not have a product licence

Alternative Medicine

Nutritional therapies Supplementation Relaxation therapies Exercise Manipulative therapies Aromatherapy Homeopathy Traditional Chinese Medicine Herbal Medicine

What is herbal medicine?

Some definitions: Herb Herbal Medicine History


Origin of Herbal Medicine
Primitive men and women treated illnesses using plants, animal parts, and minerals not part of a common diet. Physical evidence goes back 60,000 years to the burial site of a Neanderthal man who was buried with 8 species of plants. Seven of these plants are still used in medicine today.

Traditional Systems of Herbal Medicine

Medical practice that includes diagnosis, prevention and treatment, relying on practical experience and observations handed down from generation to generation whether verbally or writing.

Herbal Supplements Today

A resurgence of interest in herbal medicine originated in the 1970’s.This movement began with people’s disillusionment with modern medicine- its high cost and inability to cure everything.

Medicinal HerbsThe Whole better than part.

Powerful ingredients. Only 15% of estimated plant species on earth have been investigated for possible Medicinal uses. The world Health organization estimates that 80% of the earth population today depends on plants to treat common ailments. Traditional Healers are good resources for scientific based research.
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Herbal medicine

Plant derived medicines at pharmacological doses where effects can be measured Symptom based approach to diagnosis Most common form of alternative medicine

How do herbs and drugs differ?

Potency Side effects Cost Target

How are herbs and drugs alike?

Therapeutic chemicals Discovery Administration Research/testing Side effects/toxicity

Phytochemicals

No magic, diets high in fruits, grains, legumes reduce the risk of a number of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure. Phytochemicals are the biologically active substances in plants that are responsible for giving them color, flavor and natural disease resistance.

Classes of phytochemicals

Phenols Quinones Flavones, flavanoids Tannins Coumarins Terpenoids Alkaloids Polypeptides

Choosing an herbal remedy

DiagnosisDrug interactionsTypes of herbsSpecificsTonicsThe “anti’s”Adaptogens: sedativeBittersCarminatives: release gasesDemulcentsExpectorants

Methods of administration

Capsules Fresh vs. dry Teas, infusions, decoctions Tinctures, glycerides Infused oils Essential oils Sprays Tablets Standardized extracts Simple or formula


It is necessary for pharmacists to know about basic principles of traditional medicine for two reasons: 1- To be in a position to advise patients who may wish to consult an alternative practitioner. 2- Traditional use is a common starting point in the ongoing search for new drugs.


The Diseases in Traditional Systems are Classified into I- Minor or Self-Limiting Disorders
Like aches, pain, flatulence, diarrhea, wounds and facilitating childbirth, for which plant or herb can be obtained from a local market and would be well known within the community.

II- Chronic or Serious Disorders

Like cancer and some genetic or metabolic diseases Plant remedies will certainly be used but they may be used as a part of a ritual and treatment will also involve practices such as divination to find out which gods or ancestors have been offended and what sacrifices may be necessary to appease the supernatural entity.

The Dose

Traditional Medicine (TM), usually means a lack of specific dose, it is more concerned with How to take the remedy rather than How much So, highly potent plants are rarely part of a traditional medicine pharmacopoeias. e. g. Digitalis purpurea a drug used in treatment of congestive heart failure with narrow therapeutic index of the drug.