How Does Herbal Medicine Work? Part 1

Herbal medicine is hot right now. From herbal teas for menopause, green powders that slow ageing, to bright orange turmeric capsules that calm arthritis.

Everyone seems to be taking a plant-based supplement these days, many not realising they are dabbling in the world of herbal medicine.

But what is herbal medicine and how does it work?

Herbal medicine is the term Western countries use to describe traditional plant-based medicine that’s been used by cultures all over the world since time began. Some of the well-known systems of traditional plant-based medicine include Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Persian Traditional Medicine, Native American Indian Medicine etc..

80% of the world’s population still use traditional herbal medicine as their primary form of health care, according to the World Health Organisation.

 It’s also worth noting, that a staggering 40% of all pharmaceutical medicines are developed from plants.

Aspirin is a derivative of Willow Bark which is a common herbal medicine used to treat inflammation and pain; while the contraceptive pill was developed on the roots of Wild Yam plants. Nobel-prize winning research on artemisinin for malaria control started with a review of ancient Chinese medicine texts.

So how does herbal medicine work?

Many people view plant medicines only through a reductionist lens - trying to identify the “star” ingredient or constituent of the plant that is creating the well-known healing effect.

Millions of dollars are spent each year by pharmaceutical companies doing just this: breaking down well-known traditional herbal medicines in an attempt to find the constituent known as the “active ingredients”, then isolate them and create harder-hitting medicines that are patented and packaged for sale.

Aspirin is a good example where this approach did create a very useful pain-medicine from Willow Bark after Native American Indians discovered it could alleviate pain in the body.

However, there are many herbs that science has tried to pull apart but no single ingredient has worked in isolation from the plant’s other parts. Often, it only works whole.

Lady’s Mantle is a herb that is very well known for its ability to stop excess menstrual bleeding. It’s been used for thousands of years and has been well documented in old texts from Sweden, Britain and across Europe for its remarkable ability to reduce excess flow and save a woman from the exhaustion, anaemia, depression and infertility as a result of losing too much blood.

Lady’s Mantle is so revered it’s latin name is Alchemilla Vulgaris: with the first part suggesting the plant was an “alchemist’! I too have successfully used this plant for endometriosis and its ability to stop excess bleeding and bring life back to an exhausted, depleted woman is indeed reliable and miraculous.

However, science has not found a star constituent or “active ingredient” that adequately explains the action of Lady’s Mantle.

As herbalists we take note of active ingredients but more commonly we are looking to the “energetic action” of the plant.

Lady’s Mantle is remarkably drying (astringent) which appears to be one of the reasons it has an ability to “dry up” excessive menstrual flow.

Another more obvious example of energetic plant properties can be seen in the Ginger plant. For example, people would know Ginger as spicy and warming, but herbalists would also note that it is: stimulating, has an uplifting feeling, is activating, is carminitive (calming on the stomach), and has a diffusive quality. It’s energy seems to stay in your core or your centre.

Thus ginger is commonly used by herbalists to help stimulate a sluggish digestion, ease gut pain, get constipation moving and diffuse nausea. You can see how the herb’s energetic qualities are used to help alleviate symptoms that could benefit from those properties.

How to experience a herbal action - right now, at home

If you would like to experience these “energetic actions” for yourself in the body, I invite you to put the kettle on and find some dried ginger spice in your back cupboard. Place 1/2 a teaspoon of ginger powder into a mug and pour over boiling water. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Then add a little honey to taste.

Now sit quietly with your warm ginger tea (but not too hot add cooler water if you need to make it tepid - don’t burn yourself ok). Take a sip of your ginger tea and close your eyes. Hold some in your mouth and feel it’s spiciness, it’s warmth. Now drink some more and feel the warmth, not just of the tea but of the spice, as it spreads into your gut. You’ll might notice ginger’s diffusive action too: it appears to spread throughout the gut and body effectively.

What region of the body do you most notice the effect of ginger? Probably in your core. Ginger will stay mostly in your core but other herbs seem to travel to other areas and I can show you this in another issue :-)

With your eyes closed, note your own feelings rather than just what I’m saying.

Does the action of the herb seem to be warming or cooling? Is it moistening or drying? Does it seem to bring you up and out - more to the edges of the body or does it take you down and in?

The more times you sit quietly to experience and taste a herb, the more you will notice and understand its actions. Different herbs do indeed feel remarkably different. And ginger is a bit of a sledge-hammer. Other herbs are cooler, subtle, surprising and intriguing. Some herbs you will not like!

Other herbs you will be inextricably drawn to - like an old friend - as your body enjoys the energetic feeling of a herb and action that would benefit you.

I hope that explains a little bit about how herbal medicines work and one of the ways herbalists work with a plant’s natural properties to instigate a healing response in the body.

Love and good health

Jessica x