The science of herbology is as old as medicine itself and is the people’s healing system in nearly all cultures of the world. Plants and their specific parts—be it roots, leaves, flowers, or berries—have clear pharmacological activity in our bodies, ranging from very subtle to profound. The system of pharmaceutical medicine is based on the knowledge and effects of herbal medicine, where the active components discovered in the plants were concentrated or synthesized to make "patent medicines."
I have turned more to herbal medicine in the last decade and now use both herbs and pharmaceuticals in my practice. Overall, herbal remedies, individual and blended, tend to be more subtle in their effects than most drugs and are best used for mild problems or prevention. For chronic problems, herbs can be used to strengthen or detoxify specific organs or the entire body, but often must be employed for weeks or months to have an effect. For more acute or serious problems, when rapid relief is necessary, Western medicines clearly are very useful.
This discussion of plants is not intended to be a treatise on herbology, though some of the plants discussed are effective and very popular in herbal literature. Described below are some of the common plants often used as nutritional supplements. Some popular herbs, such as peppermint (for nausea or headaches), chamomile (indigestion), raspberry (colds and uterine weakness), parsley (diuretic), and red clover (lung tonic and blood cleanser) will be left for herbal texts to explore.
| Alfalfa | | Ginger |
| | Aloe Vera | | Ginkgo biloba |
| Cayenne | | Ginseng |
| Echinacea | | Ginseng |
| Feverfew | | Kelp |
| Garlic | | Licorice |
| Wheatgrass and Barley Grass | | |
| 
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