What Makes Herbal Medicine so Important in Terms of Preventing and Curing Disease.
The use of herbal medicine has increased tenfold during the past decade or two. More than 80% of
people rely on herbal medication compared to conventional healthcare treatment options. Numerous
researches have been conducted to test the efficacy of these compounds leading to the establishment
of robust herbal medicine industry. These medicines have shown their role in treating various diseases
and have also been reported to help in disease prevention.
Herbal medication is not a new concept. Herbs and plants have been used by healthcare providers since
time immemorial. There are records of ancient healers and doctors using nature to treat diseases in
humans and animals.
What is herbal medicine?
Herbal medicine has its root in ancient culture. It entails the use of plants and herbs to prevent and treat
ailments and propagates general health and well-being. It is an integral part of alternative medicine. It is
not a single compound but a whole regimen in which several compounds interact with various targets
simultaneously. These medicines can both prevent and cure diseases at the same time.
Can all plants be used as medicine?
No, plants containing certain ingredients that can be used for therapeutic purposes or medicines are
called medicinal plants. Many synthetic drugs have mimicked the naturally occurring medicinal
compound already found in plants.
How do we get medicine from herbs?
All medicinal herbs and plants contain active ingredients. The parts or organs of plants are either dried
for use, or their oil is extracted to be used in various forms. Some of which are:
Topical applications ( Applied on the skin)
To brew as tea ( Can be taken orally)
Pills and capsules ( Can be taken orally with food)
Oils and tinctures (Applied on skin and have exceptional external and internal healing
properties)
Powder form ( Can be mixed with food or water)
Salves
Rubs
Essential oils
Traditionally used herbs:
Some herbs that have been used in herbal medicine since the break of the dawn are:
Ginger
Dong Quai
Ginseng
Goldenseal
Hawthorne
Echinacea
Garlic
St Johns Wort
Gingko Biloba
Apart from these important herbs, there is a long never ending list that is used these days to cure
hundreds of diseases.
Importance of herbal medicine:
There are many reasons herbal medicine is essential. Listing here a few of them might help you
understand why this mode of treatment is so popular among the general public:
1. It is more economical than synthetic medicine. Modern medication is getting far from a
common mans reach in these times. Herbal medicines offer cost-effectiveness, and anyone can
afford them.
2. There is a lag in the demand and supply of synthetic drugs. Herbal medication bridges this gap
very efficiently. These herbal supplements are commonly available in tea, essential oils, and
extracts both online and in pharmacies.
3. It is closer to patients ideology and belief system. These recipes have been here for generations.
People have belief in their efficacy.
4. There are minimal to no adverse effects of this medicine, being natural and organic as compared
to synthetic (western) medicine.
5. Unlike synthetic medicine, people do not form resistance from these herbal supplements.
6. These medicines boost the immune system and aim to return the body to its natural balance.
This ensures that the body heals itself from within.
7. Stabilizes hormones in the body. They work with every system in the body and optimize their
function.
8. People turn towards herbal medicine for chronic diseases that have to stop reacting to modern
medication.
9. In modern medicine, only one compound is present that targets one issue. This is not the case in
herbal medication. Several compounds in each plant come together and solve multiple problems
in the body. By doing so, they not only treat the body of the current ailment, the herbal
medicine help prevent any further issues that might arise.
10. Herbal medicine is not only restricted to fever, cough, flue but has been used widely in the
treatment of malignancies, IBS, respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases. Not
only they treat a disease but also helps in the prevention.
References:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3847409/
2. Mohamed Eddouks, Debprasad Chattopadhyay, Vincenzo De Feo, William C. Cho, "Medicinal
Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases", Evidence-Based Complementary
and Alternative Medicine, vol. 2012, Article ID 458274, 2 pages, 2012.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/458274
3. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/herbal-medicine
4. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/herbal-medicine
5. https://www.omicsonline.org/conferences-list/benefits-of-herbal-medicine
6. http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/Chap-9-new.pdf
7. http://www.ajprd.com/downloadebooks_pdf/26.pdf
8. books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&id=y3
9. books.google.co.in/books?hl=en&lr=&i
