Botanical Solutions for Effective Patient Care - Medical Journalist Report of Innovative Biologics

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Jan, 2002  by Morton Walker

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

Human physiology responds to plant molecules. Physicians using botanical medicine know that plants add vitality to their treatment program that drugs, vitamins, minerals and nutrients do not possess. Liquid herbal extracts generally are more concentrated and possess a stronger therapeutic effect. Herbal extracts are highly absorbable even for patients exhibiting symptoms of malabsorption and provide a wide spectrum of therapeutic phytonutrients in an effective delivery system.

The human body holds a restorative capacity, the Vis Medicatrix Naturae, which utilizes the biochemical diversity of plant molecules for a wide variety of healing functions. They include cellular antioxidant protection, detoxification, modulation of hormone function, enhancement of circulation, plus restoration of energy to the nervous system.

The medicinal application of botanicals is an expanding discipline that has been an integral tool of enlightened health professionals such as naturopathic physicians, chiropractors, herbalists, nutritionists, and nutrition-oriented physicians. Improvement in the quality of botanical medicines combined with the increase in clinical research and scientific literature has captured the imagination of conventional health care practitioners. This article discusses some important core concepts of herbal healing and new products for physicians using botanical medicines for effective patient care.

Prescribing Botanical Medicine

* Method I: Prescribing Single Herbs

The use of single drug prescribing has a long and proven record in conventional medicine. Learning the indications, contraindications and dosage of individual botanicals is easy to accomplish and to practice effectively. There are numerous single botanical medicines that have undergone significant research, offer a strong body of knowledge, and afford abundant clinical experience. Although research into botanical medicines still has a long way to go, when using certain herbs such as St. John's Wort there are numerous journal references, including dosage indications and herb drug interactions.

Single Botanicals with Established Indications:

St. John's wort standardized to .3% hypericin, in a 300-mg dose three times daily, is a safe and effective botanical for patients who show mild to moderate depression. Single herbs can usually be applied with existing medications that the patient is taking as long as assessments of any interaction are monitored. The in-office pharmacy necessary for prescribing single herbs can be as small as six to eight botanicals for the most frequently indicated conditions.

* Method II: Prescribing Established Formulas

The second method in prescribing botanical medicines is the use of formulas that incorporate herbs known to be effective when combined for specific conditions. Time-tested formulas of synergistic herbs designed by practitioners and available to health care professionals can create consistent and predictable clinical outcomes. Using the example of depression, St. John's wort is often the initial prescription. By supplementing it with skullcap, passionflower, hops and/or valerian, the herb will induce more rest and a calmer mood. A different formula would provide more tonification or stimulation.

* Method III: Prescribing Individualized Formulas

For many patients an individualized botanical formula may provide a faster response time than the single herbs or established formula. The essence of a rapid, deep and effective result is creating a constitutional formula that establishes resonance with the patient and with his or her condition. Prescribing an individualized formula also offers the physician an opportunity to change the remedy as a patient's symptom picture evolves.

Herbalists and Naturopathic physicians who have botanical formularies of single herbs sufficient for mixing customized formulas generally prescribe according to Method III. It may also involve the use of botanicals that are mildly toxic and must be dosed correctly.

Quality in Liquid Botanical Extracts

Growing vigorous organic plants, applying state-of-the-art technology in extraction methods and laboratory testing to ensure the best time to pick and the best way to process the botanical medicines, ultimately ensures liquid herbal extracts of unsurpassed quality. Many specialists in herbal medicine prefer liquid extracts to spray-dried powdered herbal extracts. It may be that the complex molecules in botanicals extracted, concentrated and maintained in liquid solution retain the complex shape and electromagnetics of living molecules. Powdered herbal extracts maintain pharmacological activity, but in the drying process they change shape and alter the tertiary structure, the three dimensional shape of the plant's molecules.

Since each botanical medicine demonstrates an affinity for specific organs and tissues, the 3 dimensional shapes of molecules must affect their qualities of tissue-specific activity. As reported by many skillful users of botanical medicines, this organ specific characteristic of liquid herbal extracts is essential for optimal therapeutic results. Regular dispensers of herbs tend to know and favor liquid herbs. They have said repeatedly that even with patient compliance challenges from the sharp taste of alcohol tinctures and the inconveniences of dropper bottles, liquid herbal extracts offer the best treatment solutions for effective patient care.