What's the diff?

     You might wonder what's the diff ? Since most pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants, then isn't herbal medicine the same thing?  They both start out using plants, but the differences lie in the proccessing.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing = reductionist model.
     Highly refined process of extraction, separation, isolation and naming plants constituents.  Ultimately this proccess gets down to the chemical/mineral synthesis of so called "active ingredients". Which is produced in pill form to treat isolated disease symptoms.
Herbalism = empirical model
     The knowledge that stems from thousands of years of using Earth's healing plants.  Holistic science of using the whole plant to treat the whole person.  When the whole plant is used is provides a micro-nutritional landscape that we synthesize and utilize for our optimum health.  Having the balance of active ingredients and inert ones is thought to be why side effects aren't experienced.
     Straddling these two extremes of reductionism and empiricism lies the powerful arena for which a  modern herbalist can thrive.  This is such a exciting time to be practicing ancient healing arts, I feel so blessed to be a part of it.  I realize this enry is a bit stuffy, but it needs to be out there.  Without this understanding of the relationship between allopathic drug therapy and herbal therapy can lead to much confusion.  I am not wanting to be on the defensive of either traditions.  They both have their place in this modern forum.