DO HERBAL MEDICINES WORK?

Once upon a time our Vet Vicky was discussing the various treatments available to support an arthritic dog, including acupuncture and herbal medicine as well as nutraceuticals and conventional anti-inflammatories. The owner stayed quiet then when Vicky had finished said,

“I don’t believe in herbal medicine. It doesn’t do anything does it.”

In reply Vicky said, “Well, you are free to choose whichever treatments you prefer for your dog but herbal medicines contain many active chemical compounds so it’s not fair to say they don’t do anything. What would you say if I offered you a nice cup of herbal tea….foxglove tea?”

“I wouldn’t drink that!” said the client, “It would kill me! Oh, I see what you mean.”

SO HOW DO HERBAL MEDICINES WORK?

Plants contain a wide range of chemical compounds which interact with the human or animal body. Sometimes these chemicals are used by the plant to protect itself from being eaten, or to attract pollinating insects. These chemicals are often related to those used in conventional medicine and many conventional medicines were originally derived from plants.

HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT THE HERBS CONTAIN AND WHAT THEY DO?

The companies which develop and produce new drugs often look at medicinal plants when looking for the next wonder drug. This has been going on for a long time! Acetylsalicilic acid (Aspirin) is a modified synthetic version of the  salicilates found in Meadowsweet and Willow bark.

Drug companies look for herbs with traditional uses for the illness they are interested in then conduct trials to see if the whole herb actually does have the desired effect before trying to isolate the chemicals which bring about the effect. This means herbalists have a large amount of scientific as well as historical data on the herbs they use.

SO WHY DO WE STILL NEED HERBAL MEDICINES?

Isolating and modifying a plant chemical may make it more potent (like the aspirin) but can also increase the side effects compared to the original chemical or the whole herb. Take Meadowsweet; this herb is traditionally used to treat stomach ulcers but Aspirin can cause them! The difference is that the Aspirin is more potent and does not contain the tannins and mucilage which work with the salicylates in Meadowsweet to heal ulcers.

We like to think of herbs as complex medicines for complex disorders of complex beings!