Although they are both based on plants and their benefits, Herbal medicine and homeopathy are very different alternative medicines! While one aims to relieve symptoms, the other stimulates the body so it can defend itself naturally. Want to know more? Here's our focus on the difference between herbal medicine and homeopathy, therapies that have been used for centuries in many cultures!
Phytotherapy and homeopathy, the power of plants
Herbal medicine and homeopathy are alternative medicines that both use the many virtues of plants to heal. However, to highlight a first difference, these two therapies do not use them in the same way! To begin with, herbal medicine draws its substance from the whole or part of the plant, namely its berries, flowers, leaves, roots, etc. Homeopathy, on the other hand, uses extracts of plant origin, but also of animal and mineral origin.
Differences between herbal medicine and homeopathy
Herbal medicine and homeopathy share the commonality of treating the body naturally. Both are defined as alternative medicines, but they are not based on the same principles and have many differences. Here are the main differences between herbal medicine and homeopathy :
- Origin: Homeopathy is much more recent than herbal medicine. The latter was invented by Hahnemann, a German physician in the late 18th century. Herbal medicine is much older, having originated as an ancestral and holistic medicine traditionally used in China and dating back to 3000 BC.
- Composition: As you may have seen earlier, there's a difference in composition! While one is made entirely of plants, the other may also contain certain animal strains such as snake or bee venom. But also mineral strains such as phosphorus or calcium.
- The effects: Another notable difference between herbal medicine and homeopathy is the effects are not the same! To summarize, herbal medicine focuses on the disease and homeopathy on the patient. To put it simply, the goal of herbal medicine is closer to traditional medicine since the latter seeks to relieve symptoms. The goal of homeopathy, on the other hand, is to make your body react, stimulate it so that it can defend itself naturally (without resorting to chemical substances). To do this, we use the principle of similarity, which consists of relieving by causing symptoms similar to those of the disease to be treated.
- Treatments and modalities: To conclude the differences between herbal medicine and homeopathy : they are neither the same treatment nor the same modalities! It should be noted that herbal medicine comes in different forms (capsules, herbal teas, ointments, essential oils) and is directly available in pharmacies and without a prescription. (Yes, we can say that slimming tea uses the principle of herbal medicine!) Homeopathy, on the other hand, comes in the form of small granules that must be prescribed by a homeopathic doctor.
So, are you more into herbal medicine or homeopathy? Or maybe slimming tea is more your thing? Wander Nana?! ;)