Healthy Living

In a study by the World Health Organization on herbal medicine use, about 80% of the world's populace still rely on herbal medicine to cure certain ailments and about 74% of the drugs we use today contain at least one botanical element. For instance, Chinese Herbal Medicine's use of ephedrine to cure respiratory conditions still exists in the present time. Ephedrine remains an active ingredient in most of the commercial drugs that are being prescribed to relieve asthma symptoms.

Types of Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is defined by three schools of thought: Ayurvedic Herbalism, Traditional Chinese Herbalism and Western Herbal Medicine. While both Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicine have moved on to advanced forms, Western Herbal Medicine remains a part of folk treatments. Herbal medicine is, first and foremost, holistic. It aims to address not just a particular symptom, but to help the whole body rejuvenate and strengthen itself.

While there is no scientific evidence that all medicinal herbs claiming to have healing powers are actually effective, the number the herbal medicines that have been placed under clinical testing have proved their worth. The list of tested medicinal herbs includes echinacea, used to temper colds, St John's wort, used to treat mild depression (without using Prozac), and Hawthorne berries, which help in the recovery process from mild heart failures.

Herbal Medicine Versus Modern Medicine

Is herbal medicine a direct substitute for modern medication? It depends. While herbal medicines are extracted naturally from natural herbs and plants, not all are safe to use. This is particularly true if they are combined with other types of treatments that may not be complementary. Also, herbal medicine is often used only for mild ailments. If the symptoms are more serious, it is best to consult a trained practitioner of herbal medicine for guidance on which medicinal herbs are appropriate and the best dosage.

Presently, most of the recommended herbal medicines fall outside of standard drug regulations, thus, not all of claims are guaranteed and true. Even as common sense tells us that herbal medicine has been around for thousand of years, giving an impression that it is quite an authority, it is not recommended to self-diagnose. When unsure, always consult a professional.

Always keep in mind that herbal medicines are still medicines and, therefore, share the likelihood of having side effects as regular commercial drugs. Some of us have this misconception that because medicinal herbs are natural, they are 100% safe. This is not true all the time. The best defense against the possible side effects herbal medicines might give is to education and caution.