herbal medicine

medicine /med·i·cine/ (med´ĭ-sin)

1. any drug or remedy.

2. the diagnosis and treatment of disease and the maintenance of health.

3. the treatment of disease by nonsurgical means.

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alternative medicine  see complementary and alternative medicine.

aviation medicine  that dealing with the physiologic, medical, psychologic, and epidemiologic problems involved in aviation.

Chinese herbal medicine  a highly complex system of diagnosis and treatment using medicinal herbs, one of the branches of traditional Chinese medicine. Herbs range from the nontoxic and rejuvenating, used to support the body's healing system, to highly toxic ones, used to treat disease.

clinical medicine 

1. the study of disease by direct examination of the living patient.

2. the last two years of the usual curriculum in a medical college.

complementary medicine , complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) a large and diverse set of systems of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention based on philosophies and techniques other than those used in conventional Western medicine. Such practices may be described as alternative, existing as a body separate from and as a replacement for conventional Western medicine, or complementary, used in addition to conventional Western practice. CAM is characterized by its focus on the whole person as a unique individual, on the energy of the body and its influence on health and disease, on the healing power of nature and the mobilization of the body's own resources to heal itself, and on the treatment of the underlying causes, not symptoms, of disease. Many of the techniques used are controversial and have not been validated by controlled studies.

emergency medicine  the medical specialty dealing with the acutely ill or injured who require immediate medical treatment.

environmental medicine  that dealing with the effects of the environment on humans, including rapid population growth, water and air pollution, travel, etc.

experimental medicine  the study of diseases based on experimentation in animals.

family medicine  see under practice.

folk medicine  the use of home remedies and procedures as handed down by tradition.

forensic medicine  medical jurisprudence.

geographic medicine 

1. geomedicine.

2. tropical m.

group medicine  the practice of medicine by a group of physicians, usually representing various specialties, who are associated together for the cooperative diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

herbal medicine  herbalism.

holistic medicine  a system of medicine which considers man as an integrated whole, or as a functioning unit.

internal medicine  that dealing especially with diagnosis and medical treatment of diseases and disorders of internal structures of the body.

legal medicine  medical jurisprudence.

mind-body medicine  a holistic approach to medicine that takes into account the effect of the mind on physical processes, including the effects of psychosocial stressors and conditioning, particularly as they affect the immune system.

naturopathic medicine  naturopathy.

nuclear medicine  the branch of medicine concerned with the use of radionuclides in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

occupational medicine  the branch of medicine dealing with the study, prevention, and treatment of workplace-related injuries and occupational diseases.

orthomolecular medicine  a system for the prevention and treatment of disease based on the theory that each person's biochemical environment is genetically determined and individually specific. Therapy involves supplementation with substances naturally present in the body (e.g., vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids) in individually optimized amounts.

patent medicine  a drug or remedy protected by a trademark, available without a prescription; formerly used for quack remedies sold by peddlers.

physical medicine  physiatry.

preclinical medicine 

1. preventive m.

2. the first two years of the usual curriculum in a medical college.

preventive medicine  science aimed at preventing disease.

proprietary medicine  a remedy whose formula is owned exclusively by the manufacturer and which is marketed usually under a name registered as a trademark.

psychosomatic medicine  the study of the interactions between psychological processes and physiological states.

rehabilitation medicine  the branch of physiatry concerned with the restoration of form and function after injury or illness.

socialized medicine  a system of medical care controlled by the government.

space medicine  the branch of aviation medicine concerned with conditions encountered by humans in space.

sports medicine  the branch of medicine concerned with injuries sustained in athletics, including their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

traditional Chinese medicine  (TCM) the diverse body of medical theory and practice that has evolved in China, comprising four branches: acupuncture and moxibustion, herbal medicine, qi gong, and tui na. In all of these, the body and mind are considered together as a dynamic system subject to cycles of change and affected by the environment, and emphasis is on supporting the body's self-healing ability. Fundamental to TCM are the yin and the concept of basic substances that pervade the body: qi, jing, and shen, collectively known as the three treasures, and the blood (a fluid and material manifestation of qi) and body fluids (which moisten and lubricate the body).

travel medicine , travelers' medicine the subspecialty of tropical medicine consisting of the diagnosis and treatment or prevention of diseases of travelers.

tropical medicine  the branch of medicine concerned with diseases of the tropics and subtropics.

veterinary medicine  the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of animals other than humans.

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herb·al medicine (ûrbl, hûr-)

n.

1. The study or use of medicinal herbs to prevent and treat diseases and ailments or to promote health and healing.

2. A drug or preparation made from a plant or plants and used for any such purposes.

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herbal medicine,

the use of medicinal products containing as active ingredients exclusively plant material and/or vegetable drug preparations used to treat various health conditions. Herbal medicine is a major form of treatment for more than 70% of the world's population. Also called phytotherapy.

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herbal medicine

use of naturally occurring substances, usually of plant origin, in the prevention and treatment of disease. Western herbal medicine is based on the use of botanicals commonly available in North America and Europe. Chinese herbal medicine uses a combination of plants, minerals and animal products. See also Chinese traditional medicine. Called also phytotherapy.

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herbal medicine

Botanical medicine, botanomedicine, herbalism, phytomedicine, phytotherapy, vegotherapy Alternative health As usually defined in alternative medicine, the therapeutic use of extracts from flowers, fruits, roots, seeds, and stems, alone or as an adjunct to other forms of alternative health care or physical manipulation–eg, massages. See Alterative, Alternative medicine, Analgesic, Anthelmintic, Antibiotic, Antiseptic, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Botanical toxicity, Carminative, Cathertic, Decoction, Demulcent, Diaphoretic, Diuretic, Douche, Emetic, Emmenagogue, Enema, Ethnomedicine, Fluid extract, Green extract, Hepatic, Infusion, Laxative, Naturopathy, Nervine, Ointment, Poultice, Stomachic, Suppository, Syrup, Tincture.

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Patient discussion about herbal medicine.

Q. Which HERBAL medicine will increase my memory? I am reporter working for a familiar news channel with reputed name. The management trusts my words because I am very good in my memory. But for the past few months I am facing some memory loss and took some English medicine which is not much effective. So now I like to change my medication. Which HERBAL medicine will increase my memory?

A. You can also play games increasing your memory like the game - MEMORY. You have a lot of carton-pannels with always a pair with the same picture and then you put the cartons hiding the pictures (face on the ground). If you have not this game, create yourself one and train yourself. There are also many auto-didactic CD's in book-stores which will help you to increase your memory. Soon you will be able to remember also numbers, phone-numbers, addresses and whatever you often need. Good luck and have fun playing with yourself. MEMORY is not a game only for kids!

Q. Now I am suffering from diabetes, is there any best Chinese medicine for diabetes. One of my uncles had an allergy problem and was cured by a Chinese medicine which was prescribed to him when he visited China. First he hesitated to use it but later he was convinced by it after seeing a better result of his friend who used the same. Now as I am suffering from diabetes, is there any best Chinese medicine for diabetes?

A. Yes there are! Firstly it depends on a constitutional analysis of the patient, in other words, how their body or mind is functioning. Remember that pancreatic dysfunction within Chinese Medicine can have a range of diagnosis. The greatest difference would be whether it is Type 1 or Type 2, the nature of the beginning and chemistry factors. I would not self-medicate with any herbs for this condition without seeking out a well qualified and competent practitioner.

Q. Is acupuncture effective. I heard about a Chinese origin treatment called acupuncture. One of my friends who suffer from wheezing tried with this treatment and considers the treatment to be very slow. Is acupuncture effective?

A. NO… It is not effective in the hands of children.
Yes… as long as you are totally honest about your symptoms to your doctor.