Herbal medicine is one of those things we hear a lot about these days. But are you confused about what it really is, much less how to incorporate it into your life?

Naturopath Dr. Jennifer Brett, chair of botanical medicine at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, has the scoop on herbs and their health benefits.

Just what is a naturopath? A physician who's trained and licensed in plant-based medicines and herbs. Naturopaths go through four years of medical school like all doctors, but instead of training in a hospital with traditional pharmaceutical drugs, they train in natural medicine.

"Naturopaths are useful in helping patients to optimize general health in a preventative sort of way as opposed to simply treating illness after it occurs," explains Brett. "Naturopaths are also effective in treating chronic complaints, many women's health-care issues, and typically any complaint that is not responsive to traditional drugs or surgery."

Many people choose to have a naturopath as their general physician, meaning that the naturopath examines the patient regularly to ensure that they maintain overall good health, treating small problems with herbal medicine as they arise. Like any general practitioner, a naturopath will send his or her patients to a specialist when a more serious problem arises.

Other people choose to see a naturopath in addition to a general practitioner. "Some of my patients prefer to see a traditional physician and to supplement that with herbal treatments," says Brett.

"Many people come to a naturopath when conventional medicine has not met their needs. This is especially common in people with chronic complaints that have not been ameliorated by pharmaceutical drugs, and with women facing specific women's health issues such as menopause. Often, these people find that herbal medicine is more effective than the traditional kind."