Herbal healing is known as ‘herbalism’. It has existed for thousands of years and it’s an excellent choice for natural healing. Herbalist experts known today have ideas that came from the practices of Sumerians, Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Romans, and Greeks. Greeks had renowned herbal experts and so did other ancient civilizations.
A compilation of the greatest healing herbs, trees, plants, and flowers was compiled in a 37-volume by Pliny. For centuries, other people built on the works of Pliny including Nicholas Culpeper and Hildegard. Culpeper was an astrologer in the 17th century and he linked the healing herbs to the astrological signs. Hildegard was from Bingen. She was a medieval abbess and mystic.
Ever since people can remember, herbs and some special plants shared Christian and pagan association. For example, in summer solstice, the hypericum perforatum blooms. The Sun God is worshiped by burning the blossoms of the said plant. Romans worshipped the Sun God during solstice and they followed the same practice.
There was a point in history when people thought of healing sorcery as fraudulent. Roman laws punished those involved in healing under civil crime. Local healers were still being patronized by many people and the laws were not strictly enforced although there were really cases of fraudulent acts.
There was a time when the church discredited village healers to popularize their teachings on miracles. Healing sorcery was considered evil and witchcraft until the reformation period. Some people thought of the healing power of herbs as a gift from the devil and not from God. Despite these sentiments, neo-pagans still believed that their ability to heal using herbs was still a divine gift. The knowledge of these neo-pagans healing remedies have been passed down from generation to generation. Modern herbalists still recognize the healing powers of various herbs and plants. Today, there exists a combination of the western and eastern techniques. The ancient Chinese people are popular for using herbs to treat certain illnesses.
At present, some families grow their own herbs to prepare syrups, salves, powders, and poultices for natural healing purposes. These modern herbalists are not surprised when other people scoffed at their herbal remedies. They appreciate when modern science accepted the efficacy of some herbs. Here is a very good example – witches brewed the foxglove leaves and gave the tea to those with weak hearts. William Withering prescribed digitalis or plant foxglove as a heart remedy. Stomach ulcers were treated by giving raw juices of cabbage and Dr. Cheney from the Stanford University was able to discover that this herbal remedy was indeed effective. Some of the modern medicines we know today came from ancient botanical compilations.
There is belief that plants and herbs connect people with nature. Plants get nourishment from the air, water, sun’s rays, and the earth. It helps people in different ways, the good thing about these herbal remedies is that there are no negative side effects. No wonder, many people are patronizing the works of herbalists. There are many herbalists that you can turn for natural healing. If you surf the internet, you will find lots of herbal healing resources. Some herbalists even have their own website.
Plant medicine is different from pharmaceutical medications. Shamans are popular for using herbal medicines through the years. They believe that they are one with nature and can cure different kinds of illnesses by simply using the healing properties of herbs and plants.
Herbal healing has a colorful history. Ancient people were able to survive with the help of herbalists and the effectiveness of the healing herbs was tested over the years. Modern medicine now recognizes the efficacy of some herbs although some are still under clinical studies. People are free to choose which is best for their health. People are free to use the healing herbs. If you plan to use natural remedies like healing herbs, you need to consult an experienced herbalist. Don’t use any of the herbs without proper supervision. That way, you can address your present health problem properly.