THE APOTHECARY

Remedies from the Ages

Healing Traditions

Every culture has developed its own approach to the healing arts.

Hippocratic

Ancient Greek, the four humors, do no harm

Ayurvedic

Ancient Indian, the three doshas, balance and prevention

Chinese

Traditional, qi and meridians, five elements

Egyptian

Ancient, papyrus records, beer and honey remedies

Medieval European

Monastic gardens, doctrine of signatures

Indigenous American

Plant spirits, sweat lodges, smudging

Arabic

Golden Age, distillation, comprehensive formularies

Folk

Passed down orally, kitchen medicine, grandmother's remedies

Eclectic

19th century American, best of all traditions

Modern Herbalism

Evidence-informed, sustainable, holistic

All traditions share certain truths: that the body has inherent healing power, that mind and body are connected, that prevention is preferable to cure, and that the healer's compassion is itself a medicine.