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| Herbal Medicine: An Ounce
Of Prevention |
| by: Priya Shah |
In recent years the issue of
Alternative Healing has taken the medical
world by storm.
A 2004 government survey concluded that
more than one third of adults use some
form of alternative medicine and healing.
Many of those using alternative therapies
do not even discuss them with their
traditional healthcare practitioners.
One facet of this burgeoning interest is
Herbal Medicine. While it may seem
"trendy" to some, Herbal
Medicine has been around for thousands of
years.
In fact, many of the familiar
pharmaceutical medications we use today
were originally created from
"natural" ingredients. Drugs
like opium (from poppies), aspirin
(from willow bark), digitalis (from
foxglove) and quinine (from the cinchona
tree.)
What is Herbal Medicine?
Herbal Medicine is the use of botanicals
(plants) either singularly or in
combination to prevent and treat certain
ailments and illnesses.
People native to different geographical
locations have long used plants and plant
extracts to cure specific maladies.
Sometimes referred to as "folk"
medicine, it is generally recognized that
there are three schools of research one
can follow with regard to the history of
these treatments.
There is the study of medicines based on
Greek, Roman and medieval sources, which
is largely used by Western schools of
thought, Ayurveda which comes from
India, and the Eastern tradition of
Chinese Herbal Medicine. Rather than
separation, these different schools of
thought provide more commonality than
division.
It stands to reason that most ancient
peoples used plants that were native to
their geographical location, which
provides sound reasoning as to why
different schools of thought exist.
All three of these modalities at one time
included both philosophical and spiritual
aspects along with the scientific
knowledge that existed within a specific
time frame.
In the study that determined one third of
Americans used alternative therapies, the
same number surveyed showed a dramatic
increase in positive results to more than
60% when "prayer" was included
in the mix.
Ayurveda, loosely translated to
"knowledge of life," is the
ancient Indian system of medicine. Dating
back to more than 6,000 years ago,
Ayurvedic Medicine practiced not just
Herbal Medicine, but some of the earliest
surgical procedures as well as
inoculation.
Over the years Ayurvedic Medicine became
increasingly symptomatic as opposed to
treating the root cause of disease, which
originally was steeped in strengthening
the immune system.
With all our so-called advancements in
the medical field, it’s interesting
that physicians are still treating
"effect" rather than
"cause."
The old adage that, "an ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure"
could not be more true. This is
especially true when it comes to natural
remedies.
Nothing in the makeup of a plant tells us
in what way it would be used the best.
There are over a half million known herbs
that could be used as possible remedies.
Chinese Herbalist practitioners have over
2,000 herbs that are readily available in
their pharmacies.
Herbal remedies around the globe very in
strength from the very mild and gentle
remedies that are use even as food, to
those that are potential poisons when
taken at the wrong dose.
Folk use of herbal remedies is familiar
to all of us in some form or another.
This is because herbal remedies are
learned by being passed down from
generation to generation.
Unfortunately this hearsay is what fuels
the ire of the scientific community and
their disdain.
But by dismissing generations of
experience and observation, it is really
the traditional scientific community
which is losing out on this wisdom.
In recent times, attitudes toward
traditional and herbal remedies have
changed for the better. Many medical
schools now offer studies in
complementary medicine alongside
traditional medical courses.
It’s only a matter of time before
herbal medicine becomes part of a more
holistic practice of healthcare.
About the Author
Priya Shah is the editor of The
Glutathione Report and Health
Naturale. Get a comprehensive report
on 47
Easy Herbal RemediesThis article may
be reprinted as long as the resource box
is left intact and all links are
hyperlinked.
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***DISCLAIMER: The material presented on this website
is for informational purposes only and should not be
considered medical advice. Consult your physician for the
proper medical treatment for your condition.***
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