Beauty of Herbalism

Imhotep is considered to be the first herbalist in the world. He practiced Herbalism in Egypt during the year 2600 BCE. Imhotep is known to be the first physician and is known to be a trusted herbalist. Although he used animal products and minerals, he is still considered one of the first herbalists of time. As our society grew from his teachings and methods, now around 80% of the world uses a form of herbal medicine to strengthen their health (World Health Organization).

Introduction to Herbalism

Herbalism is the use of plants in medicinal or therapeutic means. An herb is any plant or part of a plant that’s used for cooking or healing. A lot of herbal traditions around the world also use substances other then herbs such as fungi, minerals, and even animal-based materials in their practices. 

When compared to modern medicine, herbalism approaches healing in a much more w
holistic manner. Usually herbalists consider symptoms deeply and treat the patient in a manner that will improve the person's health as a whole. In other words, unlike modern medicinal techniques, herbalism does not simply act as a band aid on the contrary works for the enhancement of the person overall. 

Currently scientists have discovered around 18,000 plants that have medicinal uses and approximately 80,000 are edible (researchgate.net)(openknowledge.fao.org). Furthermore, the annual number of newly discovered plants per year range from 100-150, showing how herbalism is an ever-growing and developing subject (kew.org). To truly comprehend it you must not only learn the basics but also keep up with new discoveries. 

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Herbal remedies also come in serval different forms but all of them involving extract the beneficial parts of a plant and combining those with other ingredients. Traditionally, extracts from plants are taken in a concentrated form. Examples of this include tea, tinctures, powders, and captures. Herbal remedies usually contain a base and the extracted substances form the plant. 

5 Main Categories of Herbs

Adaptogens

Adaptogens are everyone’s favorite category of herbs, and for good reason. These herbs help your body respond to stress in a healthier way. Instead of simply putting a band aid over your stressed situation, they actually make your body more resilient to it over time. Adaptogens do not offer big, instant change, but when used consistently over weeks or even months, they help build long-term strength in how your body handles mental, physical, or emotional stress. To get the full benefits, it’s important to take them regularly and give your body time to adjust. Some of the most popular adaptogens include ashwagandha, ginseng, rhodiola, reishi mushroom, holy basil, and shilajit.

Astringents

Astringents are herbs that help tone the skin. They assist in the tightening and firming of the skin, which in turn makes them great for skincare. Their main, overarching goal is to keep moisture balanced both inside and outside of the skin, which is extremely helpful for people with either dry or oily skin. Astringents also play a role in internal health, like supporting the digestive system and helping reduce inflammation. Well-known astringent herbs include witch hazel, rose petals, yarrow, raspberry leaf, and tea (particularly green and black varieties).

Aromatics

Although aromatic herbs fragrances are truly delightful, their use in digestion, breathing, relaxation, and circulation is equally as impressive. Because they support so many systems, they’re perfect for a beginner herbal cabinet or collection. Aromatics help move things through the body, relax tight muscles, ease cramps, support metabolism, and soothe the digestive and respiratory systems. Some examples of aromatic herbs are lavender, mint, chamomile, holy basil, and lemongrass.

Bitters

Bitters are herbs that specifically support digestion and are meant to be taken before meals. Ten minutes before eating, a little dose of bitters gets your digestive system ready to absorb more nutrients from your food and avoid issues like bloating. Bitters signal your body to release digestive enzymes, bile, and stomach acid, which are all essential for breaking down what you eat. Common bitter herbs include arugula, dandelion, beet greens, artichoke, ginseng, citrus peels (like orange or lemon), and wormwood. 

Nervines

Nervines are herbs that support the nervous system, helping to calm the mind, ease stress, and improve sleep. Unlike adaptogens, which build up your resistance to stress slowly, nervines often work faster and can give results the same day you take them. Some are energizing and good for daytime use, while others are calming and better for evenings. These herbs are great if you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or having trouble winding down. Popular nervines include lavender, chamomile, catnip, valerian root, California poppy, lemon balm, and even milky oats.

Modern Medicine vs Herbalism

From Global Autoimmune Institute

Modern medicine is none for its consequences, for its specific treatment for a single disease, for sometimes leaving the patient far worse then they were in the beginning. Although innovations in medicine during the past few years have been astonishing as we can now treat even the most aggressive medical conditions, herbalism is still credited with being the best treatment method because of its wholesome approach. In our modern world, newer medicine is used because of the limitations that herbalism brings. Herbalims doe snot mend broken bones or remove tumors, it is used to improve general well-being. I think that people should try to implement small features of herbalims into their lives but not depend on it fully when it comes to their health. Herbalism has its benefits and it should be used accordingly to its benefits. I think that that is the true beauty found in herbalism, the fact that it can be implemented so easily and can change people's day to day life is what makes it so enchanting.