Phytotherapy, taken from the Latin word “phyto” meaning “plant,” and the Greek “therapia,” meaning “care or healing.” It’s been around for thousands of years. In fact, it might very well be the first known form of medicine, although of course, it was not known by that name until more recently. Also called Herbalism, it is a form of medical treatment which utilizes the essences and extracts of plants.
Every early culture throughout the world turned to the materials they had in abundance around them for what they needed in everyday life, thus harvesting and harnessing the healing properties of plants as remedies for what ailed them. As the 20th century saw new cutting edge technology emerge in every field imaginable, medical advancements soon began to focus on new synthetic drugs and synthesization techniques. And so, Phytotherapy, Herbalism, soon came to be regarded as nothing more than “alternative healing” by much of the Western world.
Origins of Phytotherapy
As early as 60,000 B.C. the use of plants and herbs has been a part of man’s medicinal and health rituals and customs. Pollen grains found at Neanderthal sites are those still in use of common medicinal practice of people in those areas today. Ancient clay texts of Babylonians have been found, presenting essentially a “doctor’s chart” for treating patients. Symptoms of illnesses, recommended herbs, and an added invocation of the gods for their assistance… all written on a Stone Age type of “cbd post us.” In Ancient China, inscriptions found on bone and clay, detailing complex herbal formulas for healing diseases and illnesses are still found to be the basis of current Chinese natural medicine. So, it seems man has been enlisting the help of nature and natural resources since the dawn of recorded time.
How does Phytotherapy work?
Plant medicines, their extracts and essences, are used to awaken or reinforce the body’s normal functions, basically assisting the body to cure itself. A physiotherapist, practitioner, or nutritionist handles each patient as a distinctive individual, making a diagnosis and recommendation based his or her requirements. Any number of herb and plants, or combinations of those can be prescribed to bring relief.
