Herbalism is an holisitic medical system that seeks to restore the body’s self-healing mechanism. Remedies are tailored to the patient, supporting the body’s vital force in its efforts to restore homoeostasis. Much of the herbalist’s skill lies in knowing the actions of different plants on specific body systems; for example, a plant may stimulate the circulation or calm the digestive system.
Herbal ‘synergy’ is a key factor in medical herbalism. According to this theory, parts of whole plants are more effective than the isolated constituents used in synthetically made drugs.