Herbal medicine is one of the oldest medical sciences

Phytotherapy – translated from Greek, it means herbal treatment, which uses roots, flowers, leaves and other parts of plants. Phytotherapy is a field of theoretical and practical medicine based on the scientific study and use of medicinal plants or drugs derived from them for therapeutic or prophylactic purposes. Phytotherapy has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the entire body, providing a general strengthening and immunomodulatory effect.

With the help of medicinal herbs, mother nature itself has a gentle, soft, and most gentle effect on the patient. In this case, the human body receives a whole range of biologically active compounds related to it, which awaken the body’s defenses, strengthen the immune system, thus helping it to cope with the disease.

History of herbal medicine development

Herbal treatment has been used for thousands of years. Archaeologists have discovered the first evidence of the use of plants as medicine. For example, utensils used to grind herbs or clay tablets describing diseases, medicines, and how to use them. The first finds lead us to the times of the Sumerians (6000 BC), Babylonians and Assyrians, the oldest peoples of the world.

One of the most famous pharmacological evidence of Ancient Egypt is the Ebers papyrus, dated 1570 BC. It lists several hundred plants and contains recipes for treating various diseases.
For the first time, Hippocrates, a physician of Ancient Greece (I century BC), gave a scientific justification for herbal medicine. He described 236 medicinal herbs that were used in medicine at that time. Phytotherapy successfully developed in other places as well – Ancient Rome, China, India, and Rus.

Features of herbal medicine

Herbal treatment has antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergic, diuretic effects, pain relief, and an effect on the immune system.

Herbal medicine is most often used to treat such systems:

• digestive system,
• respiratory
• cardiovascular
• genitourinary
• endocrine
• nervous
• musculoskeletal system
• and skin.

Methods of herbal treatment The main forms of natural medicines:

• Decoction. Hard raw materials are taken (roots, bark, less often branches) and kept in a water bath for at least half an hour. It should be refrigerated, filtered, and used within two days if stored in an airtight container.
• Infusion. Soft raw materials (leaves, stems, buds, flowers) are taken and poured with boiled water (the temperature depends on the recipe). The product needs to stand at room temperature for an average of 4 hours. It can be stored for no more than a day.
• Herbal harvesting. The dried raw materials are poured with boiling water (similar to tea), and should be consumed at a time.
• Alcoholic tincture. The plant material is poured with alcohol or vodka, and the container is placed in a dark place for a month. The tincture is used in small doses, and the base allows you to store it for a long time.
• Ointment. External use. They are used for dermatological, fungal diseases and for the treatment of injuries.
• Extract (plant extract). Active substances are extracted by water-glycerin or oil maceration. Inhalation. They are used in case of respiratory diseases to facilitate sputum discharge and relieve bronchospasm.

Principles of effective treatment with herbal remedies Basic principles:

• Use of small doses. This helps to control the body’s reactions. Doses can be gradually increased. Gradual complication of composition. Initially, it is better to use single-component preparations to track their effect.
• Multi-component fees are introduced later — as individual ingredients become familiar. Consideration of the time of day. Tonic plants should be taken in the morning, while invigorating ones in the evening, to avoid disrupting biorhythms. Infusions and decoctions with a diuretic effect are drunk in the morning to avoid getting up at night.
• A smart combination. Herbs should be combined with each other and not harm other organs.