Herbal medicines work by means of their chemical makeup. Herbs contain a large quantity of naturally occurring chemicals that have biological activity. In the past 150 years, chemists and pharmacists have been isolating and purifying the "active" compounds from plants in an attempt to produce reliable pharmaceutical drugs. Examples include such drugs like digoxin (from foxglove [Digitalis purpurea]), reserpine (from Indian snakeroot [Rauwolfia serpentina]), colchicine (from autumn crocus [Colchicum autumnale]), morphine (from the opium poppy [Papaver somniafera]), and many more.

  According to Andrew Weil, M.D., of Tucson, Arizona, effects of herbs and plants are usually slower in onset and less dramatic than those of purified drugs administered by more direct routes, because herbs use an indirect route to the bloodstream and target organs. Dr. Weil states, doctors and patients accustomed to the rapid, intense effects of synthetic medicines may become impatient with botanicals for this reason.

  Herbal medicine has most to offer when used to facilitate healing in chronic ongoing problems. By skillful selection of herbs for the patient, a profound transformation in health can be effected with less danger of the side effects inherent in drug-based medicine. However, the common supposition that herbs act slowly and mildly is not necessarily true. If an inadequate dose, a low-quality herb, or the wrong herb is prescribed for the patient, negative effects can occur. 

 

  Many pharmaceutical research has gone into analyzing the active ingredients of herbs to find out how and why they work. This effect is referred to as the herb's action. Herbal actions describe the ways in which the remedy affects human physiology. In some cases the action is due to a specific chemical present in the herb (as in the antiasthmatic effects of ma-huang) or it may be due to a complex synergistic interaction between various constituents of the plant (the sedative valerian is an example). A much older, and far more relevant approach is to categorize herbs by looking at what kinds of problems can be treated with their help. Plants directly influence physiological activity and by knowing what body process one wants to help or cure, the appropriate action can be selected. The qualities of herbs which make them beneficial in treating the human body, include:

• Adaptogenic: Adaptogenic herbs increase resistance and resilience to stress, enabling the body to adapt around the problem and avoid reaching collapse. Adaptogens work by supporting the adrenal glands.
• Alterative: Herbs that gradually restore proper functioning of the body, increasing health and vitality.
• Anthelminitic: Herbs that destroy or expel intestinal worms.
• Anti-inflammatory: Herbs that soothe inflammations or reduce the inflammatory response of the tissue directly. They work in a number of different ways, but rarely inhibit the natural inflammatory reaction as such.
• Antimicrobial: Antimicrobials help the body destroy or resist pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms. Herbs help the body strengthen its own resistance to infective organisms and throw off illness. While some contain chemicals that are antiseptic or poisonous to certain organisms, in general they aid the body's natural immunity.
• Antispasmodic: Antispasmodics ease cramps in smooth and skeletal muscles. They alleviate muscular tension and can ease psychological tension as well.
• Astringent: Astringents have a binding action on mucous membranes, skin, and other tissue. They have the effect of reducing irritation and inflammation, and creating a barrier against infection that is helpful to wounds and burns.
• Bitter: Herbs with a bitter taste have a special role in preventative medicine. The taste triggers a sensory response in the central nervous system leading to a range of responses, including: stimulating appetite and the flow of digestive juices; aiding the liver's detoxification work; increasing bile flow, and motivating gut self-repair mechanisms.
• Carminative: Plants that are rich in aromatic volatile oils stimulate the digestive system to work properly and with ease. They soothe the gut wall; reduce any inflammation that might be present; and ease griping pains and help with the removal of gas from the digestive tract.
• Demulcent:Demulcent herbs are rich in mucilage and soothe and protect irritated or inflamed tissue. They reduce irritation down the whole length of the bowel, reduce sensitivity to potentially corrosive gastric acids, help prevent diarrhea, and reduce the muscle spasms that cause colic.
• Diuretic: Diuretics increase the production and elimination of urine. They help the body eliminate waste and support the whole process of inner cleansing.
• Emmenagogue: Emmenagogues stimulate menstrual flow and activity. With most herbs, however, the term is used in the wider sense for a remedy that affects the female reproductive system.
• Expectorant: Herbs that stimulate removal of mucous from the lungs. Stimulating expectorants "irritate" the bronchioles (a subdivision of the bronchial tubes) causing expulsion of material. Relaxing expectorants soothe bronchial spasm and loosen mucous secretions, helping in dry, irritating coughs.
• Hepatic: Hepatics aid the liver. They tone and strengthen the liver and in some cases increase the flow of bile. In a broad holistic approach to health they are of great importance because of the fundamental role of the liver in maintaining health by not only facilitating digestion but by removing toxins from the body.
• Hypotensive: Hypotensives are plant remedies that lower abnormally elevated blood pressure.
• Laxative: These are plants that promote bowel movements. They are divided into those that work by providing bulk, those that stimulate the production of bile in the liver and its release from the gallbladder, and those that directly trigger peristalsis (wavelike contractions of the smooth muscles of the digestive tract).
• Nervine: Nervines help the nervous system and can be subdivided into three groups. Nervine tonics strengthen and restore the nervous system. Nervine relaxants ease anxiety and tension by soothing both body and mind. Nervine stimulants directly stimulate nerve activity.
• Stimulating: Stimulants quicken and invigorate the physiological and metabolic activity of the body.
• Tonic: Tonics nurture and enliven. They are used frequently in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, often as a preventative measure. Tonic herbs like ginseng build vital energy, or qi.

   

 

  The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that nearly 80 percent of the world population is dependent on traditional medicine for primary health care. Herbal medicine constitutes a large part of what is practiced as traditional medicine around the world. WHO has published guidelines for the assessment of herbal medicines in an attempt to help the ministries of health of all governments develop regulations that ensure medicines are labeled properly, and that consumers and practitioners are given proper directions for their use.

  However, expert FDA (Food and Drug Administration) panels that stringently review over-the-counter drug ingredients for safety and effectiveness have expeled many herbal ingredients from sanctioned use in nonprescription medicine.

  At the same time, the FDA is banning formerly used herbal ingredients from use in over-the-counter drugs, an increasingly large segment of the population is requesting and using natural medicines.

  In the United States herbal medicine is more readily accepted than in Europe. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, though not officially recognized by Parliament, is nevertheless the accepted publication in the field. In Germany, the Ministry of Health has a separate commission that deals exclusively with herbal medicine. German doctors study herbal medicine in medical school, and since 1993, all physicians in Germany must pass a section on these medicines in their board exams before becoming licensed.

  The European Scientific Cooperative for Phytotherapy (ESCOP) is an organization, combining members of the European community, European physicians, health professionals, and researchers. ESCOP is publishing monographs on individual herbs used in clinical medicine as well as those used for self-medication. These monographs, representing the culmination of all the scientific information known on each herb, are intended to be published in the next edition of the European Pharmacopoeia and will become the guiding information for regulations of each herb in all of Europe.

  There is no licensing body for the practice of herbal medicine in the United States. The result is that many herbal practitioners are outside of the "system." However, there are numerous qualified practitioners of herbal medicine who use approaches based on either the Western bio-medical model, or on Oriental approaches, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Within the Western medical community, naturopathic physicians have a solid foundation in botanical medicine and phytochemistry.

 

  Today herbs and herbal products are available not only in natural food stores, but also grocery stores, drugstores, and gourmet food stores. Also, a number of multilevel marketing organizations sell a variety of herbal products, as do mail order providers.

  Whole Herbs: Whole herbs are plants or plant parts that are dried and then either cut or powdered. They can be used as teas or for a variety of products at home.

  Teas: Teas come in either loose or teabag form. Because of the obvious convenience, most Americans today prefer to purchase their herbal teas in teabags, which include one or a variety of finely cut herbs. When steeped in boiled water for a few minutes, the fragrant, aromatic flavor and the herbs' medicinal properties are released. As a general rule, most teas are consumed for three reasons: 

1.  as alternatives to caffeinated tea or coffee (although some herbal teas do contain caffeine);

2.  as a component to a meal strictly for the flavor (peppermint, spearmint, rosehips, lemon grass, anise);

3.  for their mild medicinal effects (peppermint and chamomile for upset stomach or to improve digestion, chamomile or hops as a nighttime sleep aid or insomnia remedy, cinnamon tea as a home remedy for diarrhea).

  Capsules and Tablets: One of the fastest growing markets in herbal medicine in the past fifteen to twenty years has been capsules and tablets. These offer consumers convenience and, in some cases, the bonus of not having to taste the herbs, many of which have undesirable flavor profiles, from intensely bitter due to the presence of certain alkaloids (goldenseal root) to highly astringent due to the presence of tannins (oak bark).

  Extracts and Tinctures: These offer the advantage of high concentration in low weight and space. They are also quickly assimilated unlike tablets, which take more time to disintegrate and ingest. Extracts and tinctures almost always contain alcohol. The alcohol is used for two reasons: as a solvent to extract the various non water-soluble compounds from an herb, and as a preservative to maintain shelf life. Properly made extracts and tinctures have virtually an indefinite shelf life. Tinctures usually contain more alcohol than extracts.

  Essential Oils: Essential oils are usually distilled from various parts of medicinal and aromatic plants. Some oils, however, like those from lemon, orange, and other citrus fruits, are actually expressed directly from the peels. Essential oils are concentrated, with one or two drops often constituting adequate dosage. Thus, they are to be used carefully and stingily when used internally. Because some oils may irritate the skin, they should be diluted in fatty oils or water before topical application. There are a few exceptions, most notably eucalyptus and tea tree oils, which can be applied directly to the skin without concern of irritation.

  Salves, Balms, and Ointments: For thousands of years, humans have used plants to treat skin irritations, wounds, and insect and snake bites. In prehistoric times, herbs were cooked in a vat of goose or bear fat, lard, or some vegetable oils and then cooled in order to make salves, balms, and ointments. Today, a number of such products, made with vegetable oil or petroleum jelly, are sold in the United States and Europe to treat a variety of conditions. These products often contain the following herbs: aloe, marigold, chamomile, St. John's Wort, comfrey, and gotu kola.

 

  Loose teas are usually steeped in hot water: three to five minutes for leaves and flowers (this method is called infusion), or fifteen to twenty minutes in a rolling boil for denser materials like root and bark (called a decoction).

  Infusions: Infusions are the simplest method of preparing an herb tea and both fresh or dried herbs may be used, such as peppermint, chamomile, and rosehips. Due to the higher water content of the fresh herb, three parts fresh herb replace one part of the dried herb. To make an infusion:

• Put about one teaspoonful of the dried herb or herb mixture for each cup into a teapot.
• Add boiling water and cover. Leave to steep for five to ten minutes. Infusions may be taken hot, cold, or iced. They may also be sweetened.
• Infusions are most appropriate for plant parts such as leaves, flowers, or green stems where the medicinal properties are easily accessible. To infuse bark, root, seeds, or resin, it is best to powder them first to break down some of their cell walls before adding them to the water. Seeds like fennel and aniseed should be slightly bruised to release the volatile oils from the cells. Any aromatic herb should be infused in a pot that has a well-sealing lid, to reduce loss of the volatile oil through evaporation.

   

  Decoctions: For hard and woody herbs, ginger root and cinnamon bark for example, it is best to make a decoction rather than an infusion, to ensure that the soluble contents of the herb actually reach the water. Roots, wood, bark, nuts, and certain seeds are hard and their cell walls are very strong, requiring more heat to release them than in an infusion. These herbs need to be boiled in the water. To make a decoction:

• Put one teaspoonful of dried herb or three teaspoonfuls of fresh material for each cup of water into a pot or saucepan. Dried herbs should be powdered or broken into small pieces, while fresh material should be cut into small pieces.
• Add the appropriate amount of water to the herbs.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for ten to fifteen minutes.

   

  When using a woody herb that contains a lot of volatile oil, it is best to make sure that it is powdered as finely as possible and then used in an infusion, to ensure that the oils do not boil away. Decoctions can be used in the same way as an infusion.