In ancient times, man realized the healing power of herbs. In spite of superstitious rumors, the herb business continued to thrive.

Herbs are used for medicine, aromatherapy and in the preparation of many food dishes. Although there are many herbs that can be used for all these purposes, each has a main purpose and the others are secondary.

Did you know that no less than 37 percent of prescription medicines manufactured in the United States, contain herbs? How many of you like mustard or use onions, as an additive in so many different food dishes? They are herbs. Parsley, thyme, garlic are used to wake up the flavor in a number of recipes. They are also herbs. So no matter how you look at it, herbs are already a part of our lives.

In ancient history, man had only nature to depend upon. Now, in modern times, man once again realizes the healing power of herbs. Many have chosen nature’s healers, rather than man-made medicinal products.

In the preparation of herbal medicines, the roots, stem, leaves and bark are used. The fruit, flowers, seeds, twigs and even exudates, which is the sap like material is also used.

The active biological ingredients in these plants are mostly used for treating mild or chronic ailments. But, occasionally they have also been used in supportive therapy, for acute and even severe disease.

The history of herbal medicine began, 5,000 years before the poet Virgil recorded the use of the herb Dittany. While hunting, if an animal wounded a man, Dittany was applied to the wound as an antiseptic.

Chinese medicine and Western herbology were different, because of the way diseases were diagnosed and herbal remedies were prescribed. A number of cultures utilize the wondrous healing power of herbs.

A book was written in 2700 B.C. by the Chinese, which listed 365 medicinal plants and their uses. The Summerians of Mesopotamia used and described the herbs Thyme, Caraway and Laurel. The Romans made medicines, food seasoning and cosmetics from herbs. Garlic, Castor Oil and Coriander were just a few of the herbs used by Egyptians.

When England was under the rule of Henry VIII, law protected herbal medicine. That protection was reaffirmed in 1968. Patients and physicians plagued by impatience, rely on chemical drugs to get faster results. At times, pharmaceutical drugs do have the ability to relieve the symptoms of an illness and can be life saving.

But, in a lot of cases, the cause of the illness is not treated. Because of this, the symptoms will emerge elsewhere. Side effects are another big issue when using synthetic drugs and in many cases are quite dangerous.

Today, in the United States, the use of herbal medicine is not regulated and herbs can come in a variety of strengths. Some herbs can sometimes be toxic; therefore it is very important that they are used under the guidance of a healthcare practioner, who has knowledge of herbal medicine.

There is varied use in alternative medicine. There is traditional Chinese medicine, Naturopathic medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. As mentioned earlier, these differ by the way an illness is diagnosed and treated.

The Naturopathic medicine approach is considered holistic of whole body healthcare. This form of natural medicine began in the early 20th century. There are approximately three principles in the use of naturopathy. First, the physician should allow the body to heal naturally. Second, the focus should be on the cause of the illness and not on the symptoms. Most of all, any other therapies that may cause harm, such as surgeries or toxic drugs, should be avoided, if possible.

A physician who practices naturopathic medicine has to train at an accredited four-year Naturopathic School of Medicine. The main science classes, as in regular medical school, are taken the first two years. For the remaining two years, the student trains in natural healing therapies. Presently, naturopathic doctors are licensed to practice in nine states. Other states do allow these doctors to practice, but in limited ways. There are also some insurance plans that will cover this form of healthcare.

The beliefs of the naturopathic doctor, is that psychological, physical and spiritual elements, play an enormous role in contributing to illnesses and diseases. A naturopathic doctor may use herbal remedies, homeopathy, massage, Chinese medicine, nutrition, exercise and hydrotherapy. In choosing an alternative practitioner, you may get a referral from your regular doctor.

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