Herbal Medicine: Treating People, Not Diseases

By David Winston

From the 1930s through the 1970s, we experienced what I call the “Herbal Dark Ages” in the U.S. It was a time when the use of herbal medicine vanished from mainstream American culture and the wisdom of our ancestors was lost. Only in a small number of rural and ethnic communities was this knowledge maintained and retained.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a revival of interest in natural foods, organic gardening and alternative health care helped usher in a renewed enthusiasm for herbal medicine. This interest has grown exponentially over the last 40 years and the herb/nutritional supplements industry has boomed. In some ways this is good; I no longer get calls asking “What is this herb, Ek-in-ec-ee-a” (meaning Echincaea). But in other ways we still have far to go.

While certain medicinal plants have become popular — St John’s wort, Turmeric, Saw Palmetto, Black Cohosh, Maca — herbal medicine itself has not. Most Americans believe that herbal medicine manes nothing more than taking St. John’s wort instead of Prozac. This is not herbal medicine, it is the allopathic use of herbs.

The idea that an herb is good for a disease is patently untrue. How many of us have been told that Black Cohosh is the menopause herb, or that Saw Palmetto is the prostate herb, or that St John’s wort is the depression herb? While these characterizations are great for marketing purposes, it is not accurate, and in many cases will lead people to conclude that herbs don’t work at all.

The fact is great herbalists do not treat disease, we treat people. More than 2,300 years ago, Hippocrates is believed to have said “It is more important to know the person who has the disease, than the disease the person has.” He was correct; the focus of herbal treatment is to use herbs, diet, lifestyle changes, exercise, etc. to enhance our body’s innate ability to heal itself.

There are no herbal antibiotics, but there are herbs that enhance our immune function and can inhibit viral or bacterial replication and virulence. So a parent could either give a child with a cold children’s acetaminophen, which can have adverse effects and actually prolong the length of illness, or try an Elderberry syrup, which in human clinical trials shortened the duration and severity of cold and flu symptoms. Other gentle herbs, such as Lemon Balm, Peppermint and Chrysanthemum tea reduce inflammation and irritability, inhibit viral replication, lower fevers and reduce GI upset.

Perhaps the most difficult idea I have to get across to any budding herbalist is to stop thinking about what herb is good for arthritis and start thinking about what herbs would be useful for a particular individual who, in addition to having digestive issues, circulatory issues or sleep issues, may also have arthritis. (In traditional medicine, herbs are virtually always used in complex formulas, not single remedies.)

This concept is found in all the world’s great systems of traditional medicine — Traditional Chinese Medicine/TCM, Ayurveda from India, Unani-Tibb (Greco-Arabic Medicine), Tibetan Medicine, Kampo from Japan, Siddha the traditional Tamil medicine, Jammu from Indonesia — and scientific research over the past 40 years has confirmed much of the wisdom and efficacy of these ancient practices.

Today, herbal or botanical medicine is not just based on traditional practices, but also depends on science and clinical research. Many people believe there is a tug of war between Western orthodox medicine and various forms of traditional medicine. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is not either/or, the question should be: Which practices can be most helpful for me or my family at this time and for this issue?

Where Western medical practice is strong, herbal medicine tends to be much less effective; and conversely, where herbal practice is most effective is where orthodox medicine tends to have little to offer. If you have Lyme disease or bacterial meningitis you need antibiotics. If you need surgery or asthma medication, that is the best treatment. On the other hand, for many chronic conditions, including migraines, metabolic syndrome, PMS, arthritis, or skin conditions, herbal therapies can offer much more than palliative care.

In my opinion, a great herbalist working with a great physician is a true win-win for any patient. It is imperative that we regain our rightful heritage — the intelligent, safe and effective use of herbs as part of mainstream American culture.

David Winston RH(AHG) is an herbalist and ethnobotanist who has studied herbal medicine for 47 years and has been in clinical practice for 40 years. He is trained in Chinese, Native American and Western/Eclectic Herbal Traditions. David is an internationally-known lecturer and the author of several books on herbal medicine, including the bestselling Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina and Stress Relief. He is a founding member of the American Herbalist’s Guild and the primary instructor for David Winston”s Center for Herbal Studies’ 2-year Herbalists Training program. Visit David’s website by clicking here.