| |
| |
Alternative medicine Home |
Beauty InfoMassage techniquesPure Natural Aromatherapy Essential oils |
|
Herbal Medicine: An Ounce Of Prevention
In recent years the issue of Alternative Healing has taken the medical world by storm. A 2004 government survey concluded that more than one third of adults use some form of alternative medicine and healing. Many of those using alternative therapies do not even discuss them with their traditional healthcare practitioners. One facet of this burgeoning interest is Herbal Medicine. While it may seem "trendy" to some, Herbal Medicine has been around for thousands of years.In fact, many of the familiar pharmaceutical medications we use today were originally created from "natural" ingredients. Drugs like opium (from poppies), aspirin (from willow bark), digitalis (from foxglove) and quinine (from the cinchona tree.) What is Herbal Medicine? Herbal Medicine is the use of botanicals (plants) either singularly or in combination to prevent and treat certain ailments and illnesses. People native to different geographical locations have long used plants and plant extracts to cure specific maladies.Sometimes referred to as "folk" medicine, it is generally recognized that there are three schools of research one can follow with regard to the history of these treatments. There is the study of medicines based on Greek, Roman and medieval sources, which is largely used by Western schools of thought, Ayurveda which comes from India, and the Eastern tradition of Chinese Herbal Medicine. Rather than separation, these different schools of thought provide more commonality than division. It stands to reason that most ancient peoples used plants that were native to their geographical location, which provides sound reasoning as to why different schools of thought exist.All three of these modalities at one time included both philosophical and spiritual aspects along with the scientific knowledge that existed within a specific time frame.In the study that determined one third of Americans used alternative therapies, the same number surveyed showed a dramatic increase in positive results to more than 60% when "prayer" was included in the mix. Ayurveda, loosely translated to "knowledge of life," is the ancient Indian system of medicine. Dating back to more than 6,000 years ago, Ayurvedic Medicine practiced not just Herbal Medicine, but some of the earliest surgical procedures as well as inoculation. Over the years Ayurvedic Medicine became increasingly symptomatic as opposed to treating the root cause of disease, which originally was steeped in strengthening the immune system With all our so-called advancements in the medical field, it's interesting that physicians are still treating "effect" rather than "cause." The old adage that, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" could not be more true. This is especially true when it comes to natural remedies. Nothing in the makeup of a plant tells us in what way it would be used the best. There are over a half million known herbs that could be used as possible remedies. Chinese Herbalist practitioners have over 2,000 herbs that are readily available in their pharmacies. Herbal remedies around the globe very in strength from the very mild and gentle remedies that are use even as food, to those that are potential poisons when taken at the wrong dose. Folk use of herbal remedies is familiar to all of us in some form or another. This is because herbal remedies are learned by being passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately this hearsay is what fuels the ire of the scientific community and their disdain. But by dismissing generations of experience and observation, it is really the traditional scientific community which is losing out on this wisdom. In recent times, attitudes toward traditional and herbal remedies have changed for the better. Many medical schools now offer studies in complementary medicine alongside traditional medical courses. It's only a matter of time before herbal medicine becomes part of a more holistic practice of healthcare. Copyright © 2005 Priya Shah Priya Shah is the editor of The Glutathione Report. Get a comprehensive report on 47 Easy Herbal Remedies This article may be reprinted as long as the resource box is left intact and all links are hyperlinked.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
A Lifestyle Approach to Remedy Snoring If you want to remedy snoring, you have to find the underlying cause. Snoring is not an affliction like the common cold, where you wake up one morning and you've just got it. Some O. H. & S. For You To Consider Clicking a mouse isn't exactly vigorous exercise, so I thought we might consider a little Occupational Health and Safety. If you're like me, you spend quite a few hours each day 'slaving over a hot computer' - and it's probably one the most sedantary things you can do. Memory Loss Memory loss affects thousands of people every year. Memory loss is often attributed to "getting older. Water Therapy: Therapeutic and Esoteric Properties for Your Home Spa Smart Bathing Something New Interesting About Water Therapy."The more I find out, the moreI find out I need to know"Water therapy, or hydrotherapy, or balneology is a powerful natural tool you can use at your home spa. Chronic Back Pain Magnetic Advantage Newsletter FEATURED TOPIC Chronic Back Pain By Bruce Spiegler I had been to three different physicians. The car accident in 1990 had left me with terrible back pain. Reiki REIKI is a form of natural healing through direct application of Universal Life Force Energy, or CHI (the term used by Chinese mystics and martial artists for the underlying Universal force, otherwise, energy). Through Reiki, energy is thought to be effected by thought. Hypnosis Way of General Indications of Deceit When the subject is changed, he's in a better, more relaxed mood. The guilty wants the subject changed; the innocent always wants a further exchange of information. Treatment Options for Hand and Foot Eczema There are many kinds of eczema, and too few people who can tell you how to cure them. Scientists are trying get a better handle on the causes of such eczema as hand and foot eczema, but they may still have years to go before they find a tested and sound way to prevent the condition. Reiki-Seichem Seichem - The Elemental Healing RaysSince the emergence of Reiki at the beginning of the last century, and its introduction to the west, there have been many variations in the way energy healing is taught. As it has developed, people have added information and understandings and have also had similar experiences to that of Mikao Usui, the man who founded Reiki for the present time. Why DO the Japanese Have the Longest Lifespan? Part 2: Live the Lifestyle Why do the Japanese have the longest lifespan? Last month you learned to eat the things Japanese people eat, and now you will learn how to live like they live. Fast, long, and lively best describes a usual day in Japan. Top 3 Yogis Secrets for Health and Happiness For hundreds of years, the yogi's have been known to know the secrets for health, peace and happiness. In this short, but informative article, I will briefly describe 3 of these secrets with you. Water: The Best Medication Ever Created! How much water do you drink every day? The majority of people do not drink enough!In 1995 Dr. F. Five Simple Steps For Treating Heel Pain If you experience a sharp pain in your heel at the first step in the morning, chances are you have plantar fasciitis (plan * tar fash* ee * I * tis). "Plantar" means the bottom of the foot. Ayurveda, Indias Science of Life, Health and Longevity Ayurveda is India's ancient science life, health, and longevity. It is thought of by many scholars to be the oldest form of health care in the world. Herb Remedies Herb remedies are made of natural substances that come from plants. Herbs have been valued throughout history. The Healing Power of Water Gardens If you experienced a day filled with running from one place to the next, one errand to the next, one meeting to the next, imagine a place where all your troubles can melt away. A place where the stressors of the day are nonexistent. Achieve Instant Calm For instant calm, try one or more of the following simple calming exercises, herbal allies, or movements, and can give you more details on how and why they work: Unfreeze yourself: Curl up in a fetal position (on your side with keens drawn up), breathe deeply, and hum. You may want to rock back and forth. Aromatherapy -- The Fact & The Fiction You've seen those mysterious little brown bottles in the health food store. But do you really know what "essential oils" are? Have you seen outrageous claims about lavender instantly curing wounds and found yourself thinking "Whoa!"? Let's take a look at one of the biggest fads to hit North America in years and try to separate some of the fact from the fiction. Strengthen the Immune System Naturally "Among the most exciting applications of herbal medicine lie in treating abnormalities of the immune system. Clinical studies have shown that various herbal products are effective in treating allergies, asthma, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Aromatherapy What is aromatherapy? Used for centuries, aromatherapy is known to have been utilized by the Egyptian physician, Imhotep; and Hippocrates. The first person to dub the term "aromatherapy, was French chemist, Rene-Mauric Gattefosse during the 1930s.
|
| Alternative home | site map | Beauty | Massage oils | Essential Oils | Privacy and FAQ | Alternative medicine Courses |
| Massage oils 365 © 2011 Alternative medicine |
