Herbal Medicine, the Modern Classic

Herbal Medicine / by Rudolf Fritz Weiss, MD. Gothenberg, Sweden: AB Arcanum; Beaconsfield, England: Beaconsfield Publishers, Ltd., 1988. Reprinted 1991. 6^th edition. 362 p., illus., index, p. 350-262. ISBN 0906584191.

The Herbal Medicine book of lectures is decidedly aimed at physicians.  This is a good thing, as the medical profession is needy of exposure to herbal medicine, its clinical experience and observation.  The book is considered a classic, and author Rudolph Weiss is regarded as the father of the herbal medicine of our times, at least in the West. Herbal Medicine was published in English in 1988, a translation from the German original text, first available in 1960. 

The whole panel of human conditions that can be helped or healed with herbal medicine, all the systems of the body and its major disorders and conditions are described in Weiss’ Herbal Medicine, a thrifty and concise dictionary of healing possibilities. Even though his book is now half a century old, the basis for the medical use of herbs is indicated and can be referred to, or expanded upon, with recent and ongoing experience in herbal medicine. His introductory chapter, with subtle complexity, indicates how much work there is in bringing the science of herbal medicine into focus.  It imagines an exciting area of scientific endeavor, that “… calls for very different ways of thinking, moving away from seeking and isolating pure principles, learning instead to take medicinal plants for what they are, a complete product of nature with innumerable individual constituents, active principles and other substances that may also make a significant contribution to the total medicinal action.” p. 3

Chapters or lectures are offered in order of the frequency seen in practice, regarding symptomatic discomfort and issues in the quality of life. The first three chapters consist of digestive diseases, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases, followed by influenza and colds. Then diseases of the urinary tract are covered, followed by rheumatism, and metabolic and endocrinal conditions, and conditions of the nervous system. Gynecological conditions and diseases of the breast, and herbal medicine in treatment of cancer are treated next. Finally, skin diseases, eye diseases, then wounds and injuries, with the last being on herbal baths complete the series. The Index is really thorough, though not exhaustive, containing terms from diseases, names of conditions, common and Latin names of plants, and bio-chemical substances.  Whether you are a physician or not, you may need to consult a reference for an explanation of certain disorders and conditions for terms not now in common usage.  Another caveat is that although herbs he describes have proven their efficacy and will not be challenged significantly, certain botanicals may have lost popularity over the past 20 plus years, but this does not discredit major medicinal actions of plants in Herbal Medicine.

Each chapter or lecture begins with a summary of the health conditions most often seen for the particular body system, and why a particular herbal substance is best suited to alleviate the condition or disease. In comparing substances that might be helpful for smooth muscle spasm, he says “The primary aim of yarrow, Achillea millefolium, like chamomile, is to influence the autonomic system, relieve spasm, and achieve a general tonic effect.” p. 315. Chapter end notes verify the sources of data on the effectiveness of medicinal plants from journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), and other American publications.  Line drawings of each herb give an idea of the whole plant’s physiognomy.

In chapter one “What is herbal medicine?” Weiss gives background for the term phytotherapy and its provenance. His lectures reveal how herbal medicine is used clinically, showing that the use of herbs is as scientifically based as that of pharmaceuticals we know by brand names. He covers the usual array of questions concerning the use of alternative substances as medicine, and how single, isolated substances are not equal to the power of herbal medicine.  In a most interesting discussion, Weiss points out that botanical substances have either gentle or powerful actions, and that the choice of an herb by its action will depend on the disorder, the most appropriate and effective course of treatment, etc. “… with gentle phytopharmaceuticals, there is no active standardized principle that solely determines drug action, they demonstrate that with plant remedies one very often has a comprehensive complex of active principles, with individual components interacting with others, so that only the complex as a whole will produce therapeutic action.  One might speak of a bio-pharmaceutical.”p.1  He then shows a listing of various drugs and diseases, with their gentle and their powerful actions.  Examples, for heart disease: hawthorn is gentle, digitalis is powerful; for nervous diseases, valerian is gentle, hypericum is midfield, and melissa, opium and morphine are the powerful drugs…

The chapter on digestive diseases begins with a short description of acute stomach conditions, followed by a discussion of the first herb of choice, chamomile.  He offers chamomile as a cure again and again in later lectures.  His introduction to an herb always begins with a physical description of the herb in its natural setting.  For example while searching for the herb in natural areas, you might encounter two chamomiles: Matricaria chamomila and Anthemis arvensis, however the second herb has no medicinal value.  

His herbal cabinet includes ephedra (as ma huang), dandelion, elecampagne, mint, garlic, hawthorn, ginkgo, and more, and we recognize these in use across the spectrum of healing traditions. He says that “… many plant drugs with properties for particular diseases and conditions may exist, but many can be eliminated due to the relative weakness (ineffectiveness) or strength of the action, or possible toxicity… and so he relies on foreign imports to create the therapy required” p. 106.  This is where the art and science of the herbalist is most robust: knowing when and how to apply a particular herb, which herb to choose among many available, for the particular condition, or stage of disease. Weiss does not mention the herbalist or botanist, yet how else but centered in botany could a choice be made for the best herb, the one with the strongest effect, and the least toxic?  Referring instead to the medical doctor, he says the odds are really not in favor of herbal medicine. He says the ascending field of chemistry and experimental pharmacology “… have caused herbal knowledge to be neglected…” p. 2, but that “… empiricism has already proved herbal efficacy, use success, tradition.”  It’s up to the physician to look deeply and assess for themselves.