All definitions © Piatkus Dictionary of Mind, Body & Spirit by Paula Byerly Croxon

Herbalism

Herbalism or Herbal Medicine is the therapeutic use of plants known as herbs to promote healing, cure illness and enhance well-being.  Herbal medicine uses all plant parts - leaf, seed, stem, flowers, root, bark - for the relief of certain complaints, conditions and ailments.

Like massage therapy, herbalism has been known and used as long as there have been people, and even animals instinctively chew on plants they know have a beneficial effect (think of your cat eating grass and you have the theory).

Herbs have been used in witchcraft and paganism, in magic rituals, in preserving and flavouring food, as integral parts of religious and spiritual ceremonies, in folk remedies, and in cleansing and purifying toxic environments.

Most of our pharmaceutical drugs are based on or derived from healing plants.