Terminology: Aspects of Herbal Medicine

Question 1

Herbal Phytochemistry

Answer 1

Herbal phytochemistry is the study of chemicals in plants, the object being to determine the chemical composition of a plant, identify plant-specific chemical features, and describe constituents with effects that may be of interest to pharmacology. Phytochemistry is interested in the part, not the whole. It also provides the foundation for isolating constituents believed to be responsible for a therapeutic action, for testing them, and for determining whether they can be synthesized and used.

Question 2

Herbal Phytopharmacy

Answer 2

Herbal phytopharmacy is the study of the preparation of herbal medicine. In our case, this covers everything from teas to poultices.

Question 3

Herbal Pharmacognosy

Answer 3

Herbal pharmacognosy is a branch of herbal phytopharmacy that covers the identification of natural drugs. Pharmacognosy can be carried out using our organoleptic tests: Appearance, feel, taste, and smell. More advanced pharmacognosy is carried out using specialized physiochemical test methods, which can create fingerprints of herbs and examine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of herbal drugs from a pharmaceutical perspective. Pharmacokinetics is the study of the process by which a drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated by the body. Pharmacodynamics looks at the effects of an agent at active sites in the body[4].

Question 4

Phytopharmacology

Answer 4

Phytopharmacologists are also concerned with the chemical constituents of plants, but in a holistic, rather than isolationist model. They are less concerned with the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics and are more concerned with research and testing natural products in humans.

Question 5

Phytotherapy

Answer 5

Phytotherapy is the study of the uses and limits of herbal medicine for particular human illnesses and conditions.