Definition: Traditional Herbs
A traditional herb is defined as a botanic material known before history used by native people for their food and/or medicine. In all regions of the world, we owe native people our gratitude for the knowledge handed down to the people of recorded history. For example, where would the British be without the herbal herbs medicine and food plants of their Native Indians – The Scots, Irish, Celts, Picts, Faerie folk. FYI, The natives wore leathers, painted their bodies like Native Americans. They gave the world a grand resource of herbs used in natural medicine today. To mention a few- angelica, garlic, chrysanthemum, hawthorn, digitalis, licorice root, holly, seaweed, many varieties of mushrooms, etc. The past shamans or medicine men and women of all cultures have preserved a rich plant knowledge which many patients are the beneficiary in natural medicine clinics, daily.
Where do traditional herbs come from?
Common sense would tell you that they come from all over the world. Any master herbalist appreciates this fact, but in reality, this fact is quickly disappearing. With civilization growing and not reversing, many species are becoming extinct. Many undiscovered flora are being lost and who knows what benefit has been lost due to greed and failure to be cognizant of how, short term interests, are destroying our current and future quality of life. Around the world, major contributions have been added to the herbal medicine arsenal:
- Asia: Ginsengs, Astragalus, Chinese mushrooms (Yunzhi, Reishi), etc.
- North America: Aloe Vera, American ginseng, Alfalfa, Goldenseal, Milk Thistle
- Central America: peppers, Cumin, Paprika, Oregano, Hibiscus, Coriander, avocado
- South America: Maca, Guarana, Yerba Maté, Pau d’ Arco, Muira Puama, Jatoba, Catuaba
- India: Ashwagandha, Gymnema Sylvestre, Ashoka, Guggulu, Dashmoola
- Africa: Yohimbe, Hoodia, Rooibus, Bangalala, Sacred Blue Lily, Ubulawu, Bush Potato
- Europe: Chamomile, Valerian, Anise, Plantain, Fennel, Rosemary, Senna Leaf
- Australia: Eucalyptus, Tea tree, Wattleseeds, Morama bean & nuts, Bush lime
Benefits of Combining Herbs from Around the World
In the past, most of regional herbal medicine practices have operated separate from the other. Some initial bridges were created in the 1970s, between the US and Europe. With different migrations of Asian medicine practitioners, some trust was developed between specific practitioners and their students. The result was to create student-authors willing to share their knowledge. This raised the general knowledge while allowing more passionate herbalists to further their development. The 1980s began more sharing of the Ayurvedic tradition, These two sophisticated methodologies joining with the Three Americas has yielded a vast exchange of herbal knowledge. This synergy of sharing is improving everyone’s practice. The separatists approach has succumbed to practitioners who are more inclusive and open-minded, Patients are getting better and more impressed with the results. Patients are seeking alternatives to allopathic medicine and its here to stay, if unhampered by the interests of Big Pharma. The internet is improving information access. The bottom line here is that a single thesis of knowledge will collide with another thesis. The result will be synthesis, if both sides are open, then a new improved idea will take hold. A World Herbal system is here now! Our natural medicine educational system is helping, When summed up, it’s the best time, if you are a client. The quality of remedy is exceptional and steadily improving.
Now, Herb Suppliers have at its finger tips, the best, quality grown herbs, unless government interference creeps in. In order to remain unquestionable, we only work with GMP certified natural medicines which is a current step above what is required by the FDA for manufacturers in the USA.
Compared to modern medicine which experiments on animals-rats, dogs, cats, then humans etc., native herbal medicine has thousands of years of experiments with real human subjects. An FDA phase IV program, to prove a modern pharmaceutical medicine works, will experiment with a few hundred to a few thousand subjects, whereas, most Asian and Ayurvedic medicine has proven effectiveness with millions of human subjects. Natural Asian medicine has improved via millions of affirmative and negative responses which has resulted in selective formulas known for 100s of years to work. Did you know that many pharmaceuticals offered by your pharmacist are not FDA approved? Yet it is OK for them to sell without serious scrutiny. They know the public is not informed about this. Which medicine should you rely on? Asian herbal formulas will have the same strength as food. Extract formulas are up to 5 times the strength of food or basic herb formulas. Pharmaceuticals are 50 times stronger than the natural herb and the food quality is removed leaving the chemical to effect the healing support.
Adding to the public’s confusion, misinformation about herbs represented by pharmaceutical interests is really a distraction and strategy to reduce market share of the herb and supplement industry. The exaggeration of danger that is waged in the press by big pharma interests is not integrous. Pharma has more than their share of challenges and would do well to regulate their own house and offer a hand of peace since most of their development has evolved from prior and ongoing herb research.
Rather than be oppositional, we need to join together instead of fall to the level of lesser emotions. We can raise each other up and combine knowledge. Its going to happen, eventually, in small steps. The process has begun in spite of financial interests.
Over time, master herbalist will discover better formulations as they become more aware of the World Herbal of traditional herbs.
Mark Hammer C.M.H., Master Herbalist Longevity Mountain 5/09
