The use of plants as medicine dates back well over 5000 years. It was not until about the 14th century that chemical replacements such as arsenic and sulphur were considered, as plant based medicines were proving futile in the face of the Plague and later, syphilis. These new chemicals were very toxic and prohibitively expensive, but over time they became widely available and adopted as the drug of choice for treating disease and illness. 

Interestingly, despite the insistence by medical practitioners that pharmaceutical drugs are better, a great percentage of these industrial drugs contain the very plant materials that have been used in holistic medicine for centuries such as aspirin and quinine.

To date there are at least 12,000 known plant phytochemical compounds that have proven beneficial to long term health and treatment of disease. In the United States, 25% of modern drugs have been derived from plants. It is estimated that 80% of African and Asian populations are using plant based medicine as their primary health tool. These medicinal plants can be grown and harvested at little cost and are readily available. Two-thirds of the world's plant species come from developing countries. 

Herbal Medicine is still the first choice in many cultures, being successfully used for thousands of years. Every culture has its own style of Herbalism, such as Indian Ayurvedic Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Herbalists prepare unique treatments, after consultations with clients that will include discussions about lifestyle, medical history and nutrition. Western Herbalists use only whole plants or plant parts in their preparations but other modalities such as TCM, can also include animal or mineral products. Clients may be treated through the use of teas, capsules and tablets, extracts and tinctures, essential oils (Aromatherapy) and various other herbal preparations.

Herbs contain a large number of naturally occurring chemicals that have biological activity and compounds from plants that are used to produce reliable pharmaceutical drugs. Herbalism does however support holistic treatment, with prevention of disease being as important as the treatment of a particular illness. Another benefit of choosing herbal medicines is that a profound transformation in health can be achieved, without the danger of the inherent side effects common in drug-based medication.

Upper North Island (alphabetical order)

Central North Island (alphabetical order) - Waikato and down

Lower North Island (alphabetical order)

South Island (alphabetical order)