Herbal tonic

For the album, see Herbal Tonic (album).
Herb garden.

In herbal medicine, a herbal tonic (also tonic herbs, tonic herbalism) is used to help restore, tone and invigorate systems in the body[1] or to promote general health and well-being.[2] A herbal tonic is a solution or other preparation made from a specially selected assortment of plants known as herbs.[2] They are steeped in water and drunk either hot or cool.[1] Herbal tonics are believed to have healing properties ranging from relieving muscle and joint pain[3] and extend as far as inhibiting some cancers.[4]

Herbal tonics can be dated as far back as 4,000 years ago[5] – as a practice thought to have originated under the sphere of traditional Chinese Medicine.[5] They were also used in Ayurvedic and Unani practices[6] as well as in Native America.[7] Initially, the use of herbal tonics was embedded within these traditional medicinal practices and cultures. Today, herbal tonics are consumed globally and are used as a general resource in maintaining well-being.[3] They are found in not only hospitals and pharmacies, but in health food stores and supermarkets as well.[8]

Although the use of herbal tonics has carried through since ancient times, it has been only within the past thirty years that herbal tonics have been used at a large rate globally.[8] Roughly 4 billion people (primarily living in the developing world) annually spend roughly US$60 billion[9] on herbal medicines to aid a large range of particular illness,[8] with some individuals turning to herbal tonics due to concerns about that quality, safety, or affordability of orthodox treatments by physicians.[8]

There is limited research into the safety and efficacy of herbal tonics[9] – what is known is that some herbs contain specific chemicals and minerals which have known effects on the human body.[3][8]

  1. ^ a b Hadady L (2012). "Herbs for comfort and wellness". Alternative Medicine. 6: 42–47 – via ProQuest.
  2. ^ a b Kerry Bone (2007). The Ultimate Herbal Compendium. Phyotherapy Press. ISBN 978-0-646-47602-5.
  3. ^ a b c Andersen-Parrado P (February 1997). "For improved well-being, reach for the healing power of plants". Better Nutrition. 59: 16 – via ProQuest.
  4. ^ Xu JP (2017). Cancer inhibitors from Chinese natural medicines. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 978-1-315-36675-3. OCLC 1077760069.
  5. ^ a b Leyel CF. Elixers of life : revitalizing herbs and vegetables. Eldridge, Mildred E. London. ISBN 978-0-203-03966-3. OCLC 882503950.
  6. ^ Atal CK, Sharma ML, Kaul A, Khajuria A (November 1986). "Immunomodulating agents of plant origin. I: Preliminary screening". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 18 (2): 133–41. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(86)90025-5. PMID 3560991.
  7. ^ Hou JP (2005). The healing power of Chinese herbs and medicinal recipes. Jin, Youyu. New York: Haworth Integrative Healing Press. ISBN 978-1-136-41568-5. OCLC 820879992.
  8. ^ a b c d e Ekor M (January 2014). "The growing use of herbal medicines: issues relating to adverse reactions and challenges in monitoring safety". Frontiers in Pharmacology. 4: 177. doi:10.3389/fphar.2013.00177. PMC 3887317. PMID 24454289.
  9. ^ a b Tilburt JC, Kaptchuk TJ (August 2008). "Herbal medicine research and global health: an ethical analysis". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 86 (8): 594–9. doi:10.2471/BLT.07.042820. PMC 2649468. PMID 18797616. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010.