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2.3. The Conceptual Context of Western Herbal Medicine
~ empiricism, eclecticism and biomedicine
To the Heart of the Matter
The mid-1800’s C.E. saw reductionism become the dominant influence in the study of science
bringing with it the emergence of a strict adherence to biomedical principles. With the development
of the biomedical approach, arose a crisis in the practice of medicine that divided the medical
profession in the western world (Griggs 1997). Orthodox medicine was being born and the new
attitudes towards the medical sciences re-defined the therapeutic arena in which the physician was
considered the expert. The focus was now being placed upon the biochemical activity of the
remedies and their affect upon an individual’s physiology.
Within this arena were a few physicians that could not divorce their practice of medicine from its
more holistic and vitalistic foundations. These physicians prescribed from the then contemporary
materia medica, which consisted primarily of botanical medicines (Gotfredsen 1973). Their practice
was of the old school, developed throughout many centuries of observation, which form the
foundation of any empirical system of understanding. It was from within their ranks that the system,
which was later to be termed Medical Herbalism has its roots (Griggs 1997). The fundamental tenet
of Medical Herbalism, was clearly expressed by one of the professions forefathers, Samuel
Thomson 10 , who once wrote: ”…The conduct of Hippocrates is a bright example… Experience
must be enlightened by reason and theory built upon close and accurate observations” (Thomson
cited by; Griggs 1997, p. 179).
The clinical approach of the early herbalist/physicians, based upon the ancient Hippocratic
philosophy of vis medicatrix naturae (the healing power of nature) (Eldin & Dunford 1999) was, for
these vitalistic physicians, incompatible with the emerging biomedical approach to treatment. This
brought about a schism in medical practice that defined the orthodox and traditional medical
schools of thought throughout the 19 th and 20 th centuries C.E. The fundamental philosophies of
these two schools were relatively judged as being incongruous, and each school continued upon its
own developmental pathway.
Discussing WHM’s attitude to the biomedical approach, Mills writes: “Herbalists have rarely
viewed the human being through the eyes of the modern scientist. They have rarely gone out to
attack fragmented diseases or even been particularly interested in them” (Mills 1991, p. 17).
9 The citation is this authors translation.
10 Samuel Thomson, American Physician (1769-1843 C.E.).
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