Traditional western herbal medicine evolved from the Greeks who were strongly
influenced by the Egyptians and Middle Eastern civilisations. Western herbal
medicine is based on the use of plant remedies native to Britain, Europe and
North America, though practitioners may also use remedies from other places.
Western herbal medicine is characterised by a person-centred, holistic approach
to treatment, so prescriptions, rather than being based simply on the diagnosis
of a specific disease or condition, are determined by an understanding of the
significance of the signs and symptoms in that individual. Prescriptions therefore
may vary substantially between individual patients apparently presenting with
a similar condition. The aim is to restore the balance of the body and stimulate
the self-healing process.