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Herbal Medicine
Sabine Hiller

Herbal medicine is one of the oldest forms of medicine, and to this day the majority of the world’s population relies on herbs for their health care needs.
Herbal medicine uses plants in pharmacological, or medicinal, doses and is therefore quite close to orthodox medicine, especially as many drugs (for example aspirin and digoxin) are based on plant constituents. However, while single orthodox drugs consist of just one chemical, herbal medicines, which are made of parts of the whole plant (such as roots, leaves or flowers), contain a myriad of compounds. This may sound like a bad idea, but it has been shown that different constituents within one plant may act in synergy to increase the effect. Similarly, so-called ‘inactive’ constituents can reduce the potential side effects of the ‘active’ constituent. 
Medical research is continuing to support and clarify the use of medicinal herbs. A number of herbs, such as gingko biloba, Horse chestnut and St John’s wort, are supported by the same level of evidence that is required for orthodox drugs. Most others are supported by a combination of pharmacological studies, small clinical trials and a long history of use.
Many people think that herbal medicine is the same as homeopathy, but the two are quite different. For a start homeopathy does not just use plants but also substances of animal and mineral origin. Further, most homeopathic plant remedies, barring a few that have an extremely low dilution level, contain no plant molecules whatsoever. They are said to work due to ‘energetic’ information retained in water structures.
The main hallmark of plant medicines is that they are generally mild acting. However, the fact that they they are ‘natural’ doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them seriously. They do have a distinct pharmacological action, meaning they affect your body. For people who are on orthodox drugs, it is essential to be sure that there are no potential (negative) interactions between herbs and drugs.
Still, while keeping this in mind, the vast majority of plant medicines have an excellent safety record. Because of this, a wide variation in dosage (a so-called ‘wide therapeutic range’) is possible. In contrast, many orthodox drugs have a narrow therapeutic range – the heart medication Warfarin being a notorious example.
It is because of the low toxicity and the wide therapeutic range, that herbal medicines have always been popular for self-medication. However, to successfully self-medicate requires first of all a correct diagnosis, secondly a correct choice of plants and thirdly you do need to monitor your progress. For any mild, self-limiting conditions – such as minor tummy bugs, colds or transient sleep problems in an otherwise healthy individual, self medication may be a perfectly valid option. Otherwise it is preferable to see a qualified Medical Herbalist.
An in-depth first consultation, which can last one-and-a-half to two hours, includes a complete survey of your health, both past and present, and will ensure that herbs can be chosen to reflect your personal needs. Practitioner and patient work as a team and together they decide on treatment aims and agree on necessary lifestyle changes, such as diet, exercise and managing stress. If necessary, you may be advised to see your GP for further investigations. The combination of a personalised prescription with continuing support and monitoring of progress during follow-up visits distinguishes the practice of herbal medicine from the use of over-the-counter preparations. 

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> Sabine Hiller is originally from Germany, where she studied chemistry. During this time, while attending an evening class in herbal medicine, she first discovered her passion for plants. She came to Ireland 26 years ago and has been living in the Westport area since 1988. Sabine graduated from the College of Phytotherapy (University of Wales), with a BSc (Hons) in Herbal Medicine in 2002, and is a member of the Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists and the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK). Before setting up her own practice in 2004, she practised in Dr Dilis Clare’s Clinic in Galway. She can be contacted at 098 35909.

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