Herbal medicine recognizes the medicinal value of plants and plant structures such as roots, stems, bark, leaves, and reproductive structures like seeds and flowers. To some, herbal medicine may seem to be on the fringes of healing. In reality, it has been in existence since ancient times. The practice of herbal medicine is certainly as old as the practice of medicine itself. 

In fact, many modern drugs are compounds that are derived from plants whose pharmacological effects on humans have been observed long before their mechanisms of action were known. A common example is aspirin. Aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, is a compound found in the bark of the willow tree belonging to the taxonomic genus Salix. Aspirin, now sold widely without prescription, is an effective pain reliever, and helps to control mild swelling, fever and pain. While aspirin is synthetically produced today, Willow bark containing aspirin was used as an herbal remedy long before chemical synthesis techniques were available. Similarly, the modern cardiac drug digitalis is derived from the leaves of the purple Foxglove plant, Digitalis purpurea. Foxglove was the herb known to affect the heart long before it was used in modern Western medicine.

The philosophical and experimental background of Chinese herbal medicine was established more than two thousand years ago. Large volumes of ancient Chinese medical knowledge, largely concerning herbs, have been preserved which chronicle wisdom gathered throughout periods of history. Some of the information is dated to about 200 BC. One Chinese legend tells of how Shen Nung, an ancient Chinese emperor, tested hundreds of herbs for their medical or nutritional value. Today scientists all over the world are attempting to isolate specific active ingredients from traditional Chinese herbal remedies.

The use of herbs ground into powders or encapsulated, filtered into extracts, mixed into salves, and steeped into teas – is a big foundation of our practice. Dr. Brantman is extensively trained in herbal medicine. When it comes to prescribing herbs, she is very knowledgeable in cautions and contraindications as well as herb-and-drug interactions.