What is Herbalism, Pharmacognosy & Phytotherapy?

Herbalism:

Plants have been used for medicinal purposes for as long as history has been recorded. China, India, Egypt, and Assyria appear to have been the places which cradled the use of herbs, but Herbalism was common in Europe by medieval times. Despite the progress in orthodox medicine, interest in Alternative Medicine, including Herbalism, is on the increase in the West and for 80% of the world herbal medicine is still the only kind to which ordinary persons have ready access.

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 of such purposes.

Pharmacognosy:

The branch of pharmacology that deals with drugs in their crude or natural state and with medicinal herbs or other plants.

The general biology, Biochemistry, and economics of nonfood natural products of value in medicine, Pharmacy, and other health professions. The products studied are of biologic origin, either plant or animal.

Pharmacognosy literally means knowledge of drugs, as do Pharmacology and Pharmacy. The center of interest in Pharmacology, however, is on the mode of action of drugs. In Pharmacy major attention is directed toward provision of suitable Dosage forms, their production and distribution. Pharmacognosy is restricted to natural products with attention centered on sources of drugs, Plant and Animal, and on the Biosynthesis and identity of their Pharmacodynamic constituents.

Phytotherapy:

The study of the use of extracts from natural origin as medicines or health-promoting agents. Even though Phytotherapy is usually regarded as "Alternative Medicine" in the Western countries. when critically carried out, is considered an essential component of modern Pharmacognosy.