Herbal medicine is arguably the oldest form of medicine and has been used by man for millennia.Herbal medicine is the use of plant materials to enhance well being and treat disease. Today, people all over the world are still using herbal remedies, which have been past down through the generations, which increasingly, scientific research is validating.Herbs are used as medicines for both man and beast, they are used to flavour food, enhance taste and are common ingredients in natural skin care products, soaps, potpourris, ointments, food and many other areas of human life. They have even found their way into remedies for our pets and livestock.Up until about 200 years ago, before western medicine was conceived of, herbal remedies where the only medicine available to man for treatment of illnesses and diseases. The Chinese and Egyptians developed traditional systems of medicine (Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine, respectively) which incorporate a systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of disease.Since the early 19th century, methods of chemical analysis became more sophisticated and chemists began making their own synthetic versions of the ingredients originally found in herbs, beginning the transition from raw herbs to synthetic pharmaceuticals.Today, pharmaceutical companies are still heavily researching herbs/plants for ‘new medicines’ that may prove useful in treating many of today’s diseases, for which orthodox medicine has little or no answers.Since the advent of drug manufacture, users of pharmaceutical drugs have increasingly experienced more and more side-effects as well as resistance to these modified forms of medications.This begs the question, why try to fix something, when it’s not broken? Herbal medicine is working as well today as it has for hundreds of years and with respect to side-effects, herbal medicine causes far fewer adverse reactions and related health problems than their synthetic counterparts. In addition, herbal medicines are more easily tolerated because the constituents are not of a synthetic type, which are known to have potential long term, and sometimes irreversible side effects.This is not to say that taking any old herb is safe, far from it. Herbal medicines need to be treated with great respect and due diligence, as they too can cause harm if not used appropriately. However, herbal medicines in general do not pose the same risks of side-effects or adverse reactions as their synthetic counterparts. The human metabolism is designed to metabolise naturally occurring substances, and is not always able to metabolise synthetic drugs fully, potentially causing a myriad of health problems and occasionally deadly side-effects.Choosing a good, qualified medical herbalist can present a challenge, as this profession is not well regulated in many countries. It is important therefore to make sure that the herbalist you seek is a member of a professional association. In Australia there are several associations such as ANTA, ATMS, and others. Europe, Canada and the US also have professional associations that will be able to help in finding a qualified, reputable medical herbalist.It is important to take time and care in choosing the right herbalist – your health and wellbeing depends on it.
Herbal Medicine – What You Need to Know
The benefits of herbal medicine and natural healing have become a common byword nowadays. It has been a common belief that herbs can do wonders including treating some common illnesses. Due to this, complementary medical practices have been considered as an effective method by many individuals. In spite of this occurrence, still there are some conflicts about the effectiveness of herbal medicines and other alternative treatment methods.Digging into the details concerning herbal medicinesThere are plenty of herbal medicines; in the same way that there are two faces covering its existence. This concerns the good and bad effects of herbal medicines regarding treatment of medical conditions. Medical practitioners insist that long term treatment with herbal medicines is not very good. It is always recommended that proper guidance of health care providers should be sought regarding pharmaceutical drug interactions and other health related concerns.Herbal remedies are in some ways related to how a drug is defined; essentially because both have the capacity to bring a certain amount of effect in the body. There is no question on that part; however the efficiency and non-toxicity of herbal formulas should first be established before it can be stated as such.Alkaloid has been proven to be present in some plants. Since majority of effective drugs are in reality obtained from plant sources, there is a possibility that some of these deadly poisons are present in manufactured pharmaceutical drugs. In lieu to this concept, many resort to a more natural health care method.Herbal medicines are popular because they cost less than their pharmaceutical corresponding item. There are no reported incidents about serious side effects brought by herbal remedies. It is easy to find herbs; they ultimately grow in very common places. Herbal medicines do not require complicated preparation procedures. Aside from these, there are still a multitude of positive attributes regarding herbal preparations.One of the disadvantages concerning pharmaceutical drugs are the presence of new molecules that can introduce the occurrence of specific problems. Probably you are still unaware that many elements constituting pharmaceutical medicines are actually derived from plants. Upon knowing this fact, you might be one of those who can connect the thought that there are basis for the healing properties of herbal medications.Will herbal medicine work best for your condition?While the popularity of herbal medicines cannot be doubted; assuming whether it can work best for you should not be your best option. Discussing all medication matters with your health care provider is still the best action that you should carry on. The medical professional is still the best person to consult because basis for treatment is achieved through the guidance of your medical history.Individuals nowadays are constantly in search for natural remedies for the purpose of treating some illnesses. Due to this scenario, majority of the conventional health care providers try to add in alternative techniques and remedies with their customary conventional treatment recommendations.Because of this modification in the manner of treating medical conditions, it is now more comfortable for individuals who are interested in herbal medicines to discuss and weigh the benefits of traditional drugs and natural healing method for the ultimate purpose of arriving at a better health care solution.