Botanical Medicine 101
Ginseng and Rhodiola is an adaptogen, which helps with times of stress and energy issues. Some people use it for weight loss. Rhodiola seems to work better for women.
What is Botanical Medicine?
Botanical Medicine is herbs that we put in a form for therapeutic use. For example, it could be a tea, a raw herb, a botanical tincture (where they take some part of the plant an put it in alcohol), capsules. Botanical tinctures don't typically taste good. About 35% of most drugs come from plants, for instance aspirin comes from white willow.
Who prescribes Botanical Medicine?
Naturopathic Doctors, Herbalists, Doctors of Chinese Medicine, but the method of prescribing is different from Western prescription of botanical medicine. Some medical doctors may also prescribe botanical medicine.
Are there particular ailments that Botanical Medicine is good for?
It can be used for many applications. In many cases where is there is a drug for a particular ailment, there is often a botanical medicine for the ailment. For example there are botanical medicines for sore throats, blood pressure, arthritis, headaches, pain. HOWEVER YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL, as some botanical medicines can interact with other medications. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL like a naturopathic doctor before taking any botanical medicines. One example is St. John's Wort- it commonly throws off drug levels.
How do you know what Botanical Medicines to take?
Echinacea is one example of a common Botanical Medicine
It has an "o.k." safety profile, so usually there isn't a lot of concern taking it. Also, people tend to take it for a short period of time, maybe a week.
Generally with Botanicals you should consult with a healthcare professional before taking them- you have to be very careful. You should view botanicals the same way that you view drugs- you don't usually take botanicals for prevention, it's usually to treat something specific.
Where do you get Botanical Medicines?
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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