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Plant extracts and other minerals have been used for their medicinal properties throughout the ages and modern science had established links between traditional herbalism and the preparation of synthetic medication. The plants in your backyard may help in providing a cure for some common ailments and help you save money in the process.
There are two main reasons why people resort to using herbs, animal extracts, and other natural minerals for medicinal purposes. One is tradition where the knowledge of the applications of such, were handed down from one generation to the next, from one community to another, and from one practitioner of medical herbalism to an apprentice. The other is economics. With the associated costs of research and development, packaging, marketing, and patenting, synthesized drugs do cost considerably much more than botanical medication. Some pharmaceutical companies have taken to capitalizing on these two factors by producing pills and capsules that possess the traditionally accepted benefits of herbal medicine and market them at affordable prices. There is nothing wrong with this as long as these products are proven to be safe for consumer use and are generally affordable. Herbology can trace its roots even up prehistoric times. Anthropological expeditions have found evidence of our pre-homo sapien ancestors’ use of plants to treat various ailments through cave drawings and fossilized or frozen artifacts that are associated with the specimen. It had been theorized that our ancestors have observed animals with varying ailments that consume bitter-tasting plants, generally do get better. They decided to try it for themselves whenever they developed the same symptoms. They simply employed, through instinct, insight, and trial and error to develop an early form of medicine. Moving further along the human evolutionary process, the ancient Chinese, Egyptian, Arabian, Indian, African, and Native American cultures have made their own significant contributions to the development of the use of herbal medication. Some of the more popular herbs and animal extracts being used for medical applications are as follows: • Artichoke for use in lowering blood cholesterol levels
• Enchinacea extracts for the treatment of viral colds
• Garlic, Lemon Grass and Honey for lowering total cholesterol levels
• Oregano for drug-resistant bacteria
• Saw Palmetto for prostate-related ailments
• Pawpaw for insecticidal applications
• Pokeweed, may either be taken internally or applied topically for the treatment of acne, tonsillitis, swollen glands, and to promote weight loss
• Peppermint oil for irritable bowel syndrome
• St. John’s Wort has shown positive results towards the treatment of mild to moderate depression
• Valerian root for insomnia
• Feverfew for migraine headaches
• Lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for the treatment of acne
• Green Tea may inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer causing cells and scar healing
• Bitter Gourd extracts are used to moderate blood sugar levels in diabetic patients and to promote weight loss The application of herbal medicine can be done as follows: TINCTURES (extracts are dropped directly to the affected area), TISANES (extraction with the use of hot water such as for chamomile and other teas), TOPICAL (direct application to the skin or other affected areas, whole herb consumption (eating the whole plant part), and INHALATION (as in aromatherapy). One the flip side of the matter, it is also a common misconception that the use of natural medicines are equated to total safety since these substances occur naturally in their base habitat. The point that plants are also living things must be taken into consideration. They also evolve to survive competition and ward off predators. Some of the alkaloids that are considered as factors to their medicinal properties may also have been used to poison the animals that consume them. So, as with the modern, synthetic medication, herbal medicines should also be taken in moderation and with safety always in mind. In summation, a good number of modern, synthetic medicines do owe their existence to traditional plant extracts. At least 25% of the modern pharmaceutical products in the United States and at least 7,000 compounds in modern pharmacology are derived from plants. At least 35,000 species of plants with medicinal value come from developing countries. As far as the numbers go, all seems to be going in the favor of the practitioners of herbal medicine. |
