Herbal Medicine Therapies

Plants have been used by humans for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. They are the original source of many of the popular modern day pharmaceutical drugs, like Aspirin (salicylic acid) which was first isolated from the bark of the White Willow tree.

The remarkable thing is there’s an herbal remedy for every condition. Herbs can fix arthritic pain, menstrual pain, digestive pain, bloating, reflux, low energy and vitality, skin rashes, acne, infertility, irregular periods, sluggish thyroid function, low immune system and bacterial and viral infections. You name the health problem there are herbs to eliminate it.

Unlike pharmaceutical drugs medicinal herbs have a long history of safe use. As I already mentioned they have been used for thousands of years. They are an integral part of human history.

Herbal medicine is well tolerated by our bodies because they contain more than just the active ingredient. Every herb is a complex mix of compounds that work in harmony with the body. Take Willow Bark for example. It is used like aspirin for pain. However what sets Willow Bark and aspirin apart is that Willow Bark will not cause stomach ulcers whereas aspirin will, if the dose is too large or taken for too long. That’s because the compounds in Willow Bark do not become active until they are absorbed into the blood stream. While aspirin is immediately active and exerts it effects on the stomach lining, blocking the production of protective mucous so that stomach acids burn the tissue.

Our bodies are well designed to cope with the compounds contained in plants. The complex mix of plant chemicals act synergistically to prevent them from poisoning us. What our bodies are not designed to cope with is the isolated, highly purified and concentrated chemicals found in pharmaceutical drugs. They lack the extra compounds that on the surface don’t appear to do anything. But what these supposed in active compounds do is create balance so that the active chemical doesn’t produce any side effects.

Herbal medicine comes in many forms these days. I still use the old traditional teas and liquid extracts because liquids are more easily absorbed. Plus I can blend individualised formulas. But more commonly I now use encapsulated powdered herbs or the extract dried and turned into a tablet because many patients struggle with the taste of the liquids. Or I need to use a higher therapeutic dose that only a tablet can provide. But whichever form is used the benefits are maintained.

A common concern I hear from patients is that they don’t like taking pills, which is why they have turned to natural medicine in the first place. Taking pills is a justifiable concern to have, but we do need to distinguish between pharmaceutical tablets and herbal tablets. Though they may look the same the herbal tablet is just the plant compounds extracted out and into a fluid, which is then evaporated and turned into a tablet. All the multitude of compounds are retained so the synergy and safety is still maintained. In essence taking an herbal tablet is just like eating the whole plant minus the liquid and fibre.

So no matter what your health problem – arthritic pain, menstrual pain, digestive pain, bloating, reflux, low energy and vitality, skin rashes, acne, infertility, irregular periods, sluggish thyroid function, low immune system or bacterial and viral infections there are herbs to solve it, safely, effectively and permanently.