Healing factors of herbal medicine
When studying treatment algorithms, it is advisable to refer to the installation concepts in the worldview of practicing phytotherapists, which the author developed in the course of scientific and practical activities. Our interpretation of concepts is not opposed to the well-known and generally accepted. The theoretical substantiation of phytotherapy organically fits into the general theory of therapeutic effects.
The human body is an open self-regulating biological system. We consider treatment (including herbal medicine) as a process of meaningful use of environmental factors and mobilization of self-regulation mechanisms for the full or partial restoration of structural and functional disorders of the body, adaptation to environmental changes, and increasing vitality.
Every biological process (including life) has its vectors. As a result of the total therapeutic effect, we form a therapeutic vector. With pharmacological action (including the effect of phytochemicals), we create a pharmacological vector, achieving one effect or another. The pharmacological vector currently being created (for example, stopping bleeding) may not always be absolutely useful; at some stages of the treatment process, it may not coincide with the therapeutic vector.
Among the therapeutic factors of herbal medicine, we distinguish psychotherapeutic and pharmacological groups.
Psychotherapeutic factors
Psychotherapeutic influence is formed and implemented during the period of communication with the patient. The most significant are the following psychotherapeutic treatment factors.
Faith in phytochemicals. There are mainly two categories of patients who turn to phytotherapeutists: those who have consciously made a choice in favor of herbal treatment and those who have lost hope for other methods. However, both patients believe that phytotherapy will help them. Herbal treatment is covered with legends, has an aura of mystery, a miracle. Herbs are loved by the people, they are regarded as good friends who can help without causing the slightest harm.
Prepare the patient for treatment. The phytotherapeutist conducts a tuning conversation with the patient, explains how to behave, how to handle herbs, informs about their therapeutic effect and methods of application. The doctor clarifies the goal of the patient, determines the treatment program – this includes the patient in the active process of treatment, makes him work on himself. The ritual of preparation of dosage forms, the regularity of the use of drugs disciplines patients. The patient works, which means he hopes. Hope and work on oneself are powerful psychotherapeutic, healing factors.
Bioenergy-information impact.
It involves verbal and mental transmission of the treatment program. A medicine prepared for a particular patient may not always help another with the same disease. The state of mind and attitude of the phytotherapist, his attitude towards the patient significantly affect the result of treatment. This can be compared to a gift or a bouquet for a loved one: sometimes words are not needed, and what kind of bouquet is not very important, but the effect is beneficial.
The correct assessment by the doctor of the characteristics of the patient’s personality, the ability to influence the perception of the surrounding reality, the disease and the upcoming course of treatment determine the success of herbal medicine.
Psychological and psychotherapeutic phenomena in herbal medicine.
Many years of experience in treatment with plants allows us to highlight the psychological and psychotherapeutic features that should be taken into account in medical activities.
• Induction of treatment programs. In the event that the patient unlimitedly believes the doctor, it is possible to inspire (based on real experience, or accurate calculation) to him an idea of a further, favorable course of the disease. At the same time, in addition to pharmacological effects, self-regulation mechanisms are launched. Often the patient perceives the course of the disease in a strict chronological sequence according to the “recovery” scenario indicated by the doctor.
• Negative induction. In suspicious, suggestible patients, the number of adverse reactions to treatment increases if a well-meaning doctor warned about possible reactions (for example, allergies, pain, diarrhea, etc.). Expectation and heightened introspection often lead to false sensations or self-induction of these symptoms and, as a result, discredit the treatment.
• Syndrome of unjustified expectations. Occurs more often when overestimating the possibilities of herbal medicine. The patient begins to wait for the promised miracle – a quick cure, but it should not be. As a result, disappointment in the method, although objectively the treatment can benefit this patient.
• Syndrome of unexpected results. Often, with properly selected treatment, when the doctor takes into account not only the manifesting, underlying disease, but also assesses the state of the whole organism – treats the patient, not the disease, it is possible to get rid of concomitant diseases, symptoms and syndromes that the patient seemed incurable, to which he was accustomed often ignoring them. It is advisable to explain to the patient the regularity of this result – this further strengthens the belief in herbal medicine, contributes to positive self-induction for further treatment.
The experience of treatment with medicinal plants convinces: the psychotherapeutic component of herbal medicine is a significant and complex tool for the formation of a therapeutic vector, its underestimation or leveling significantly reduces the therapeutic effect.