Most people get so used to treating their health conditions with pharmaceutical pills that the thought of using herbs as medicine seems outdated to them. The idea of using a bunch of herbs to improve your health might even invoke images of old peasant women or quack doctors. It’s important to remember that the herbs were all that people had for a long time in history. And the herbs had served them well in curing their ailments before the modern pills came up.
So, would it be right for you to switch to herbal medicines? The following six reasons claim that it would be.
The Wisdom of Ages in Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine has been in use for more than thousands of years, and millions of people worldwide have used different types of herbs. No scientific study or trial has been around for longer than herbal medicines. When you think of it like that, the number of people worldwide who believe in herbal medicine is more significant than any group chosen for a scientific trial.
The insights about medicinal herbs go from generation to generation, usually within families. The herbal healers noticed how the sick birds and animals eat specific plants or herbs to purge or self-medicate themselves. You will find evidence of using plant-based medication on Ancient Egypt’s Papyrus to the Sumerians’ clay tablets. The ancient scriptures mention the use of over eight hundred types of herbal medicine.
The Safety Factor Associated With Herbal Medicine
An essential benefit of herbal medicine is that they are usually safer than those synthetic pharmaceuticals. When you take herbs as a whole, the compounds present in them buffer any harmful action they might have.
For instance, meadowsweet helps in treating stomach ulcers. But, when taken as aspirin, the salicylic acid present in it causes stomach ulcers. The same thing applies to Kratom and its myriad health benefits. On this note, you can try the best Kratom vendor konakratom.com for various health issues. The whole herb has liver protective elements and works to improve overall health conditions. Plants are chemically complex living organisms that have several medicinal qualities. Unlike the pills, herbs don’t isolate a particular health condition and only work on relieving it.
The Raw Materials for the Pharmaceutical Drugs
Herbs being pharmacologically active, serve as the raw material for modern medicines. The ancient records of hands-on, practical herbal knowledge help the basis development of modern pharmaceutical science. At present, ethnobotany has come up as the way to go for discovering new medicines.
Artemisinin found from sweet wormwood in China helped in the discovery of new-age antimalarial drugs. In 2001, the scientists had recognized nearly 122 chemical compounds used in modern medicine that come from various traditional herbal sources. A few examples of medications that have plant-based ingredients are colchicine, atropine, quinine, ephedrine, digoxin, and aspirin.
Treatment for a Host of Diseases in Herbal Medication
Herbs can deliver outstanding therapeutic results for particular conditions. For instance, think of St. John ‘s-wort that is renowned for its antidepressant properties. Studies have depicted that St. John’s-wort is an effective treatment option for mild to moderate depression and has lesser side effects than other prescription meds.
There are many other options like St. John’s wort. Echinacea can also improve the natural immunity of the body. Sage and lemon balm can work together to increase mental prowess in Alzheimer’s patients. When you combine the knowledge of Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, and Western herbalism, you will find many more such examples. Herbal medication can address health conditions like anxiety disorders, IBS, diabetes, high cholesterol, and eczema.
Reducing the Load of Hazardous Chemical Wastes
The pharmaceutical industry generates a significant amount of hazardous wastes through the manufacturing, distribution, and selling processes. The waste us usually in the form of unused medications, over-the-counter personal care products, used test strips, and so on.
Though waste management is an integral part of the pharmaceutical industry, there is no solution to these byproducts released from the process. It is a cause of concern because failing to take care of the wastes can cause serious environmental and health hazards. Herbal medicines help reduce chemical waste and contribute to a greener environment.
The Affordability of the Herbal Medications
The cost of healthcare is rising each year, and so are the prices of even necessary drugs. The corporate pharmaceutical companies continue to drive up the prices in a bid to outdo each other. The good thing is that natural options are already available in the market.
Herbal medications are more cost-effective compared to pills and capsules. So, even if you switch to herbal medicines for common ailments like cough and cold or back pain, you’ll save a lot.
Summing Up
It is essential to mention that herbal medicine’s effectiveness depends on the herbs’ quality. So, whether you grow a few herbs in your garden or source them from a seller, make sure not to compromise with quality. Once you get started on the side effects of free natural medicines, you won’t go back to the pharmaceutical pills.
Author: Lisa Dinh
