Herbal Medicine: An Ounce Of Prevention
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.
Copyright © 2005 Priya Shah
Priya Shah is the editor of The Glutathione Report. Get a comprehensive report on 47 Easy Herbal Remedies
This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.
 Google News Updated : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:05:30 GMT Arthritis Drugs Linked to Risks From Infection - New York Times
New York Times - By AP WASHINGTON (AP) - The Food and Drug Administration ordered stronger warnings Thursday on four medications widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other serious illnesses, saying they can raise the risk of possibly fatal fungal infections. Deaths Heighten Arthritis Drugs Warning Nation Digest 4 arthritis drugs get tougher warnings Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:38:34 GMT Tropical Storm Hanna aiming for Massachusetts - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - By Andrew Ryan and Martin Finucane, Globe Staff Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to churn up the Atlantic coast and lash Massachusetts this weekend with winds gusting up to 50 mph near the coast and up to four inches of rain. Video: Hanna Nears US, but Stronger Ike Looms Area departments gearing up for Hanna's arrival Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:23:14 GMT Stocks: A Terrible Thursday - BusinessWeek
BusinessWeek - Major US indexes each tumbled nearly 3% as worries intensified over the health of the economy. All eyes are on Friday's jobs report Market players were probably wondering Thursday why they bothered to come back from their summer vacations. Stocks Are Broadly Lower Tracking Falls on Wall Street Stocks slide on economic worries Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:53:27 GMT Kilpatrick's rise and fall - Detroit Free Press
Detroit Free Press - BY BILL McGRAW • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER • September 5, 2008 Kwame Kilpatrick entered the mayor's office with extraordinary gifts -- charisma, savvy, flair, pedigree, connections, ambition and chutzpah -- everything a 31-year-old needed to make a ... Video: A Timeline of Detroit Mayor's Text Scandal Detroit’s Mayor Will Leave Office and Go to Jail Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:27:50 GMT House committee widens probe of Vytorin safety - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP TRENTON, NJ: A House committee investigating the safety and effectiveness of the popular cholesterol drug Vytorin and one of its components is turning up the heat on the drug's makers. Many Questions About Vytorin Drug Scare Shenanigans Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:32:18 GMT Jesse Jackson hospitalized for stomach pains - Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune - By Jeremy Gorner | Chicago Tribune reporter Rev. Jesse Jackson was being treated Thursday in Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after falling ill. Video: Rev. Jesse Jackson Hospitalized Jesse Jackson hospitalized after stomach pains Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:00:48 GMT UN warns of Haiti flooding crisis - BBC News
BBC News - Several hundred thousand people need help in Haiti, which is suffering severe flooding after being hit by a series of tropical storms, the UN says. Attempts to Aid Desperate Haitians Hindered by Floodwaters Storms line up to slam western Atlantic, southeastern US Publ.Date : Fri, 05 Sep 2008 07:05:26 GMT Increased Website Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... America is undergoing a dramatic shift in healthcare. Actually, ten... Read More What we do is just as powerful as what we... Read More So why is there disease? The very word means that... Read More Do you ever listen to other people's conversations? I mean... Read More Osteoporosis is a condition that faces every baby boomer; man... Read More If you are conscious, have an IQ higher than about... Read More Are you worried about your moles, warts, and skin tags?... Read More Eating the right kind of food and following good eating... Read More Forget those CrystalsAs an integrative medical practitioner, I keep an... Read More If you experienced a day filled with running from one... Read More It is estimated that 80 percent of communicable illnesses are... Read More So, where does disease come from? How does it get... Read More Within 20 minutes ???? you can expect??..... your blood pressure... Read More In recent years the issue of Alternative Healing has taken... Read More This title to a book by Rudolph Ballentine deserves more... Read More If you have high cholesterol, you should educate yourself about... Read More The immune system in your body is an amazing functionality... Read More "Among the most exciting applications of herbal medicine lie in... Read More Fungal infection of the nails is the one of the... Read More BATH: Add 10-12 drops of a single oil or a... Read More The study of ethics concerns moral choices, generally in the... Read More If you want to remedy snoring, you have to find... Read More If you're like most of us who have known chronic... Read More Given below the list of Best Home Remedies for all... Read More Do you know the top ten causes for death? You... Read More
Adsense
websites
Top 10 Trends in Healthcare
Allergy Approaches through Lifestyle
The Source of All Disease
Health - Its All in the Mind
Treat Osteoporosis Naturally
Can I Be Hypnotised?
Moles, Warts & Skin Tags Remedy
Fruits, Juices, and Food for Relieving Hemorrhoids Part II
Watch Out for Alternative Medicine Charlatans!
The Healing Power of Water Gardens
Plain Soap as a Natural Method of Infection Prevention
When Your Emotions Become Like Ticking Bombs & Cause Disease
All The GREAT Benefits You?ll EXPERIENCE When You QUIT Smoking!
Herbal Medicine: An Ounce Of Prevention
Radical Healing
Lower Your Cholesterol Naturally ? Cholesterol Through The Mouth
Improving Your Body Immune System
Strengthen the Immune System Naturally
Powerful Essential Oils Kill Nail Fungus
Application Methods For Aromatherapys Essential Oils
Ethical Guidelines For Hypnotherapy
A Lifestyle Approach to Remedy Snoring
Why Your Search for Pain Relief Needs a Strategy
Home Remedies, Treatment To All Ailments By Herbal Homemade Remedies
Discover The Missing Key to Improving Your Health
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
The Causes Of Stuttering In Childhood
Stuttering is a problem that affects approximately one in every... Read More
Natural Prevention & Treatment For The Flu: What Your Doctor May Not Know
Flu can affect 10 to 30 percent of the U.S.... Read More
The Sense of Smell and Emotional Response
Smell is a specialised chemical sense. It is interesting to... Read More
Use Digestive Enzymes to Reduce Hemorrhoid Inflammation
Using digestive enzymes when you have hemorrhoids is a good... Read More
Prenatal Massage
What is prenatal massage? Prenatal Massage is a form of... Read More
Mosquitoes? No Itch, No Bite!
When you are in the season of the mosquito, it... Read More
Healing With Color FAQ
Can Color Therapy Be Used With Other Healing Techniques?Yes, color... Read More
Air Fresheners, Or Are They?
For years I've prided myself on believing that I take... Read More
Therapeutic Massage Goes Main Stream
Have you ever bumped your knee or elbow? What was... Read More
Hypnosis
HYPNOSIS is a state of induced but conscious sleep through... Read More
How Brewer?s Yeast and MSM Clear Constipation
Brewer's yeast can help to ease, reduce, or clear your... Read More
Memory Loss
Memory loss affects thousands of people every year. Memory loss... Read More
Do-Sa-Do For Mindfulness
When I was 12, one of my best friends was... Read More
More Fruit Constipation Remedies Part II
Here are some more constipation remedies using fruits. Try to... Read More
The Making of Essential Oils ? Steam Distillation, Absolutes, and CO2s Explained
Aromatherapy Goes 'High Tech'New methods of essential oil extraction are... Read More
The Benefits of Swedish Massage
Swedish massage is the most common form of relaxation massage... Read More
Eating Healthy Myths Destroyed
All Refined Carbohydrates are Hazardous to Your Health. The average... Read More
5 Simple Steps For Ridding Yourself Of Back Pain
Millions of people suffer from back pain unnecessarily when there... Read More
New Hope for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Sufferers
There are numerous theories with regard to the causes of... Read More
Mental Anchors
Have you ever noticed when you remember something pleasant in... Read More
Herbs ? Natures Potent Remedies
Use of herbs for health and as a medicine has... Read More
Making Your Lungs Work Better With Water
All of us know when our lungs aren't quite working... Read More
Constipation: A Serious Health Concern
How often do you go to the bathroom and have... Read More
A Stitch In Time Saves Nine - Prevention not Cure
It is a sad fact that most people pay little... Read More
Reduce Asthma And Breathe Free
Asthma can be a serous and often frightening condition that... Read More
Alternative Medicine |