Diagnosis

The knowledge and techniques available for the diagnosis of disease have mostly been developed by conventional medicine. This is extremely successful but still imperfect. The process needs to be understood so that herbalists can use the information effectively.

There is a tendency to focus on tests which are laboratory based. These have characteristics which are highly valued by the medical establishment. They tend to be objective, can be automated and deskilled, and so are economical to carry out in large quantities.

Tests which rely on skilled observation are often disregarded and information on them is difficult to find. Such tests are particularly valuale for herbalists. They can be used to confirm existing diagnosis or as indicators where no diagnostic results are available.

Disease Processes

Most of our understanding of disease processes is derived from conventional medicine and science. This understanding is essential if the mechanisms by which herbal treatments affect the disease process are to be understood as well.

The holistic approach and the complexity of herbal medicines make it necessary for the interactions between body systems to be considered. This presupposes a basic understanding of the individual systems.

The Interaction of Herbs and Presription Medicines

Relationships between doctors and those using herbal medicines have improved greatly in recent years. This means that patients are increasingly likely to be taking herbal and prescription medicine at the same time. This is largely uncharted territory. The herbalist starts with the advantage that his experience lies in using mixtures of active constituents. The prescription drug is just one more component in the mix.

A synthesis between the two branches and type of knowledge seems possible. The starting point must be to make both sets of knowledge available and understandable to the other. The Herbal Repository seeks to do this and also to build links between the two.