Herbal medicine is the use of medicinal plant material as a treatment of disease. Since plants are a complex mixture of organic components, the actions of a plant medicine are often multi-modal, meaning that they can have more than one action when used as medicine. Herbal medicine has a long tradition in several cultures. In naturopathic medicine, doctors are trained in Western herbal medicine, to which there are currently a multitude of approaches. I cannot write a comprehensive summary in this brief space, but I will provide you with an overview of herbal medicine.

Henriette's Herbal Homepage

Wonderful page with agreat deal of information, both lay and practitioner oriented. Plenty of pics and many other links. Run by herbalist Henriette Kress.

Herbal Bookworm

A good site which reviews herbal books and software with a close eye. Particularly good for discerning the book by the trend-watching freelancer from the book by the clinica herbalist.

SW School of Botanical Medicine Home Page

An excellent page withdetailed information from an herbalist with his feet firmly planted in responsible herbalism. More in depth information.

Robyn's Recommended Reading

An interesting site by an enthusiastic practitioner with material at all levels. Particularly good article about common criticisms of herbs and how this criticism is often hypocritical.

Herbal Materia Medica

NPI Center - Natural products industry page (by healthworld online) with a large herb list by David Hoffman good for introductory information on the use of each herb. Commercially supported site.

Last updated 4January06