By Lucas Elias
People in all cultures have used herbs as a natural solution for centuries. Herbs have passed the test of time and have proven safe and effective. Millions of people have recovered from various diseases. Unlike prescription drugs, with herbal medicines, every diagnosis and treatment is adjusted to fit the individual. At present, the increasing number of people is looking for herbal treatment as an alternative for synthetic drugs that can be harmful to health in the long term.
It may be strange that modern drugs are replaced with grandma’s powder and tea, but with the knowledge that most modern drugs are the synthetic version of plant substances, people choose the original.
There is time when herbs have been dismissed and herbal treatments are not valued, but things change because herbs contain far more superior traits than synthetic drugs and are more aligned with the human body. They create far fewer and harmless side effects if any, and provide ‘side’ benefits instead of side effects. There are several side effects of prescription drugs, some of which are durable and some that cause permanent damage or interference in body parts. To cure one part, another part of the body must be compromised, and this can be fully avoided by herbal medicines.
Let’s take the example ‘Ginkgo Biloba’, which increases memory and also increases blood circulation in the legs and arms. ‘Garlic’ is used to improve the immune system and also lower cholesterol.
Herbal medicines have been shown to fulfill the role that synthetic drugs cannot do. All levels of adaptogens found in herbal medicines do not have equivalent in modern medicine.
Europe has a history of use of a stronger herb when compared to the United States. European doctors always maintain interest and skills in prescribing herbal medicines along with modern medicines.
The difference between treatment and modern medicines and very large herbal medicines. When treating, herbal medicine practitioners pay attention to all aspects of individual health, see building their health and not only covering certain diseases. Another difference is that, herbal drug doctors are not only seen in herbal chemical and molecular components but also their energetic aspects. Herbal medicines believe that all living things, including plants contain energy. The Chinese call it this vital energy power ‘Qi’. Where modern drugs are worried about treating the disease itself, China’s treatment views this disease as a blockage for vital life forces. It aims to remove the blockage.
This concept is better understood by acupuncture example. Acupuncture is based on the flow of blocking and energy paths ‘invisible’ from the human body. The great success of acupuncture speaks for himself. The right concoction to open blockages is needed to allow body energy to flow, so healing.
All this of course seems strange for the mindset of modern medicine. But herbs have been proven to work for the human body without serious side effects.
Herbal is an original source for at least 25% of all pharmaceutical drugs. For example, morphine used as a pain killer, comes from opium poppy; Digitalis, heart stimulants, comes from Foxglove; Respperine, sedatives and antihypertensive, derived from Rauwolphia (Indian snakeroot).
While modern treatment is looking for active ingredients in the factory and extracting and removing the remaining plants, herbal medicines depend on synergistic actions from complete plants, to take advantage of thousands of compounds in the factory. While prescription drugs have fast and targeted actions, which are also the reasons why side effects are caused; Herbs tend to work slowly but gradually, in the process of strengthening body defense for a certain period of time.
