Herbal medicine, also known as Phytotherapy, is a very complex and diverse world of study and practice. It is the practice of using plant based medicines to promote health and wellness in the body, mind and spirit. There are many different paths to becoming a herbalist and many different ways of being and practicing in this field.
A common myth in the world of medicine is that all herbalism is of “traditional basis” and therefore unscientific or unqualified in the current lens of conventional medicine.
The WHO allots Traditional, complementary/alternative and Herbal medicine into one category known as essential medicines. Complementary/alternative medicine (CAM) is defined by the WHO as: “The terms “complementary medicine” or “alternative medicine” are used inter-changeably with traditional medicine in some countries. They refer to a broad set of health care practices that are not part of that country’s own tradition and are not integrated into the dominant health care system.”