The art of herbal medicine is based on an amalgam of ancient tradition, clinical experience and modern scientific research.
Herbal practice involves the use of seeds, berries, fungi, seaweeds, roots, tubers, vines, mosses, lichens, leaves, bark, fruits or flowers to treat and prevent ill health using a variety of preparations from quality-sourced whole herb ingredients such as tinctures, herbal teas, decoctions, syrups, poultices, infused oils, essential oils, salves, ointment or creams.
The Herbal tradition is the oldest extant system of medicine and has developed from ancient cultures such as:
• Ethnobotanical traditions of Ireland and Europe
• The Western Herbal Tradition (Graeco-Roman & Medieval)
• Ethnobotanical traditions of America, Africa and Australia
• The Ayurvedic Tradition of India
• Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCM)
And more recently its expanding evidence-base also includes:
• Specialised Herbals – academic books on plant medicines
• The clinical experience and observations of practitioners in the field
• Recent clinical research into the safety & efficacy of plants