The Amazing World of Herbology

Where does the word herbology come from and what is it all about? ????

Herbology is actually not a word but it has been used to describe the trade of medicinal and new age healing. It is the study of herbs and how to use them. They have been used back as far as ancient Egypt to the biblical times. I am sure they could have been used long before recorded time but until writing began we had no proof. No one really knows where or how long ago those old wives tales and home remedies go back, but we know for sure that they have stood the test of time. Herbs have been used by many types of healers on down to common folk. It is noted that Shamans, Druids and medicine people have even used them for a deeper more magical purposes.

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There are five distinctive types of Herbology. 

Western is the type most of us are used to; it combines European and Native American herbs for medicinal purposes. This type of study classifies herbs in three ways by the potency, the side effects and the composition of the herb itself. 

Chinese herbology is the combination of herbs and acupuncture. The philosophy is not focused on specific symptoms, but to treat the whole body. The herbal prescriptions are always very individualized for each specific person since they believe that no two people are alike. 

Ayurvedic herbology is approached with the idea to heal the complete soul including the mind, body and spirit. The word "ayurveda" in Sanskrit translates to "knowledge of life." Its main concept is to balance our three doshas - Vata (nervous system), Pitta (digestive system) and Kapha (lymph system) - by using a sense of balance between eating healthy, exercising, the proper use of herbs and spiritual contentment. 

European herbology derives its roots from the Greek and Roman times of medicine. It is known as the most traditional type of medicine.   European herbalism treats mainly the physical body and aliments with no focus on the soul. 

The last one is known as Native American herbology, or a new age concept to the uses of herbs; some call it “magical herbology.” This way treats the whole person, believing that what we hold inside and conditions we live in can make us ill. When we harbor negative emotions it creates “dis” “eases’ that makes our souls unwell. So a healer’s goal would be to establish balance in one’s-self first to be able to heal others. Knowing that there are so many types to choose from you can either specialize or use a generalized path of herbology.

The herbal basics are the same for all types of study except the Native American/New Age      herbologist often believes that the power of the earth is in each herb, not just chemistry and chemical properties. Practitioners can use fresh or dried plants, simple extracts by mixing only one herb called tinctures or standardized extracts like essential oils. They can be found in concentrated form or a set dose, in loose pills or liquid form. Just figure out what way is best for the people using them or the ones you serve.

Herbs at one point only included leafy varieties but now include roots.
Finding herbs now a day is very easy with the internet but I heed caution - some people will not be true to the craft by selling similar things in place of other herbs to mislead you. Finding someone you trust is best; many bigger towns and cities have shops that are quite reputable. You can also find some in tea shops and naturopathic supplement stores. But the best way to ensure your herbs are pure is to grow them yourself; they can be grown almost anywhere.

I will at this point remind you about the Warnings !!!

Yes, herbs are natural and wonderful but there are ways they can cause harm. I mainly caution on internal use but some can cause issues even if used externally.

*There are herbs that are used to cause negative interacts and grave side effects or allergic reactions like Calamus Root (Sweet Flag) which is often used in western medicine.  It needs to be used in small doses and it is mainly used as an aphrodisiac. Some users report mild hallucinations and increased delusional thinking. Asafoetida (Devils Dung), known for its bitter taste, is used for stomach issues and upper respiratory infections but if not used in moderation it can cause blood disorders, seizures or convulsions and very high blood pressure.

*Be careful of self-diagnosis.  It is best to seek professional help first until you know exactly what you’re dealing with. Symptoms/signs in our bodies can look like many things and knowing the facts can make a big difference on how you would use herbs to help rather than to hinder.

*Herb and prescription drug interactions can make for a deadly combination if you don’t know the chemical makeup of the drugs and herbs so check with your doctor, or better yet pharmacist, to assist you in these matters.

* The last warnings are to be very careful treating children and pregnant women or breast feeding mothers. These groups of people have not had sufficient studies done and unless we have done proper clinical testing and research we cannot be sure as to the interactions.

It is very important to learn all the side effects of the herbs you are using but don’t be afraid to try out some tried-and-true recipes that have been used by our fore-mothers and fathers. You just may find that something as simple as a bit of mint tea will help you move on to a new level.

    **** First Published in March 2013 Paranormal Underground Magazine***