Materia Medica: An Introduction
Written by: Dr. Frannie Koe
Materia Medica is a Latin term and refers to the branch of medical science specifically focused on the sources, nature, physical and therapeutic properties, and preparation of any substance used for healing. This includes drugs, natural substances, and plants. This medical category typically includes pharmacology and clinical pharmacology, as well as the physical and chemical properties and the history and traditional uses of the substance being studied.
In herbalism and botany, the term Materia Medica usually refers to a notebook, guide, or reference book that lists substances used in the composition of medical treatments such as pharmaceutical drugs, medicine, and herbal remedies such as teas and tinctures. Here, I have included four pages that you can use to build your own Materia Medica to use at home. Please see the PDF file below.
Not only can a Materia Medica help you learn more about the plants in your own yard, it can help you expand your knowledge base about the parts of the plants that are edible, and learn about what our ancestors used for medicinal purposes. The history and usage of medicinal plants is an enormous topic, and we will not try to cover everything. Mostly, this category will serve as a quick reference for common knowledge in the herbal world. We will include plants that are gentle in their action that can be used for common complaints and general wellness support. We will not include any potentially harmful plants, low dose botanicals, or remedies out of the scope of my knowledge. I will include herbs in my Materia Medica that I may use in my own clinical practice and that have thorough scientific research to prove their efficacy.
A doctor, or any health practitioner, wants to help people. However, in certain situations, our medicines are not appropriate or may be too strong for some individuals. Sometimes, we need more tools. I have often recommended herbs to help people with a problem that needs a much lighter dose or than some of the heavy drugs we have in our arsenal. I have patients that cannot afford some medications and have been able to recommend herbs to help them occasionally. We will build this page more slowly so that we have well-researched references for all the information we put here. I will build my own Materia Medica here as I learn more about the plants in our environment that can be useful.
*** It is important to remember that the information here has not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition or disease. Please do your own research and consult with your medical practitioner before changing your diet or adding anything to your health routine, including herbs.
