Complementary & Alternative Medicine: Herbal Medicine

What is herbal medicine?

Herbal medicine (also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine) uses a plants for medicinal purposes, drawing from established practices like traditional European medicine (TEM) or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Herbal supplements may contain entire plants or plant parts, including the use of seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers. Supplements can be dried, chopped, powdered, capsule, or liquid, and can be used in various ways, including:

• Internal consumption through pills, powders, or tinctures
• Brewed as tea
• External application to the skin as ointments, lotions, or creams
• Used in bathing as bath salts or oils
• Inhaled through oil diffusers, steam therapy, or incense 

Caution should be applied when using herbal supplements. Unlike pharmaceutical prescriptions, herbal supplements are not subject to clinical trials or required to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Due to lack of regulation, some herbal products may be mislabeled or contain additives or contaminants not listed on the label. Some herbs may be inappropriate for people with certain medical conditions, cause allergic reactions, or interact with conventional drugs. Others are toxic if used improperly or at high doses.