History Of Herbal Medicine

- The Thomsonian System

I have reprinted a book from one of the forefathers of Herbal Medicine, Samuel Thomson. But before reading the book, it's important to understand a little bit of the period in the history of herbal medicine that this book is associated with. And to understand that some of the practices and herbs recommended in this book are no longer suitable or advisable to practice.

Thomson lived from 1769 to 1843. He was inspired to develop his system of herbal medicine in response to being aghast at the methods of blood letting to treat common diseases of the day. Mercury and other poisons were also used in the name of healing. He witnessed several members of his family - his mother, daughter, and wife - suffer whilst being treated with these 'fashionable' methods of blood letting and poison administration.

He started helping out his family and neighbors by using his own knowledge of herbal medicine. Then, with a family to support, he decided to follow his passion for healing and pursue it full time.

Thomson had learned a lot of herbal medicine from the herbalist, the widow Benton, that he knew as a child. She explained the herbs she used, and why. But as Barbara Griggs writes, "It was also clear from Thomson's writing that he was reading the medical literature of the day, though he always insisted that his methods were entirely of his own devising." (Green Pharmacy)

Griggs goes on to say: "His works are also silent on the subject of the most obvious source of inspiration: Indian medicine. Like Thomson, the Indians steamed and sweated their patients; like Thomson, they gave them massive doses of emetics; like Thomson, they used roots, barks, fruit, and leaves for almost the whole of their materia medica; like Thomson, they never used mineral poisons." (Green Pharmacy)

Emetics are one of the reasons this book describing a facet of the history of herbal medicine should not be taken at, or applied to illnesses, at face value. Emetics involve using herbs to induce vomiting, and modern herbalists definitely do not use or recommend this practice. Herbs can have great benefit to people, but certain herbs, and ways of using herbs, are akin to the old practices in the medical profession of blood letting and giving people mercury to ingest - they have been discredited as a healing mechanism and are only referenced in an historical context.

With that in mind, Thomson's book is an interesting read, and he provides information on other herbs as well, herbs that are still in use and considered safe to use.

Index Of Book - The Thomsonian System

The System of Medical Treatment as Taught by Dr. Samuel Thomson.

The Thomsonian Medical Practice Modernized for the Modern Natural Physician.

A Detailed Description of the Most Frequently Prescribed Healing Agents of that era.

• Prologue
• Reasons For Renewed Interest In Once Discarded Common Remedies
• The Natural Physician's Basis Of Procedure
• Human Reconstruction
• Lobelia

• The Thomsonian Or Physio-Medical Treatment Of Disease - Part 1
  • The Thomsonian Or Physio-Medical Treatment Of Disease - Part 2
  • The Thomsonian Or Physio-Medical Treatment Of Disease - Part 3

• The Philosophy And Principles Of The Thomsonian System - Part 1
  • The Philosophy And Principles Of The Thomsonian System - Part 2
  • The Philosophy And Principles Of The Thomsonian System - Part 3
  • The Philosophy And Principles Of The Thomsonian System - Part 4