Nature, whose sweet rains fall on unjust and just alike, will have clefts in the rocks where I may hide, and secret valleys in whose silence I may weep undisturbed. She will hang the night with stars so that I may walk abroad in the darkness without stumbling, and send the wind over my footprints so that none may track me to my hurt: she will cleanse me in great waters, and with bitter herbs make me whole.
Oscar Wilde, De Profundis
One of the greatest changes in recent history when it comes to the medical profession is the rediscovering of a field of medicine and therapy known as “alternative medicine”. Both healthcare professionals in addition to for profit institutions like hospitals and pharmaceutical firms alike are dismayed at the resurgence of practices and medications that only a few decades ago were considered primitive, barbaric, ineffective, unscientific and even superstitious.
Acupuncture, homeopathy, traditional Chinese medicine and massage therapy are no longer considered relics of forgotten time but have instead started to gain the foothold they once had, pushing out many modern medicines and practice as the primary means of solving a medical problem. A controversial yet highly publicized practice among these is that of herbal medicine. The mainstream media as well as publishing mediums, both in print format as well as online, are consistently being filled with information regarding herbs like St. John’s wort or Ginkgo bilboa.
Where they were previously a niche to be found mostly in health food shops, herbal medicines and remedies are widely available in pharmacies as well as in abundance online. These herbal remedies are frequently consumed to assist with a wide range of ailments, from depression to erectile dysfunction, and frequently without the authorization or consultation of their family doctor.
After some deliberation and bouts of self denial, in the mid 1990’s physicians generally began to accept the popularity of herbal medicines. Health science libraries tend to possess an incredible amount of information compiled over the years, but it is nonetheless difficult to navigate. However, there is a compendium of knowledge that is often briefly summarized and easily accessible in modern times.
Databases, encyclopedias and search engines can help people find exactly what they’re looking for. Even when it pertains to prescription drugs and over the counter medication, those who know how to seek will be able to find what they’re looking for, both in scientific and technical detail as well as something understandable to the layman.
In the past, there have been several publications and books that served as a decent emporium for the classification and summarization of herbs and plants used for medicinal purposes. Among these are:
- Martindale: The Extra Pharmacoepia
- The Dispensatory of the United States of America
In the late 1990’s, there was an increase in frequency as well as volume of questions related to herbal medicine that were posted by patients to their physicians. The common textbook material often taught to physicians and used as a reference for modern medicine and chemical drugs did not contain sufficient enough information covering herbal remedies. An author by the name of Varro Tyler had two books that were often referred to by some physicians to their patients who needed advice in their field:
- The Honest Herbal
- Herbs of Choice