Chinese Herbal Medicine-

Chinese Herbal Medicine, the oldest form of healthcare practiced today, is the use of plant, animal and mineral materials for their medicinal value. Extractions of various chemical properties are used to act on the body in specific therapeutic ways. Traditionally, herbal preparations are taken as a tea, however today they are available in many other forms such as; herbal pills, plasters, liquid tinctures, and highly concentrated granules.

For more information on Chinese Herbal Medicine

please visit practitioner page Katia Durand

Botanical Medicine-

Botanical Medicine is the use of plants to treat common health conditions.  The applications of plants as medicine has a rich tradition dating back centuries, and until recently, it represented the only form of medical prescriptions.  Currently, plants have contributed to over half of the pharmaceuticals we know today, and are a powerful form of medicine that can assist healing on many levels.

 

What is the difference between Botanical Medicine and Pharmaceuticals?

 

Plants are generally safer than pharmaceuticals and have less side effects.  Botanical Medicine commonly utilizes the whole plant, whereas pharmaceuticals extract, concentrate, and chemically alter a single compound from the plant.  Using all the components of the plant produces a gentler, more complete medicine. 

 

In general, pharmaceuticals are used to address symptoms of a condition, where botanicals are able to both address uncomfortable symptoms and heal the body by treating the cause.  Many plants help to nourish, detoxify, and restore a taxed system, creating long-term, lasting health improvements.  Herbal alternatives to a medication do not always exist, and botanical medicine can often counter negative side effects or complement medications, increasing their effectiveness.

For more information on Botanical Medicine

please visit practitioner page Dr. Elizabeth Carter