Herbal Remedies Ignite Controversy

Herbal remedies have been around for as long as humans have.  Today there is much controversy and battling between herbal medicine and pharmaceuticals.  The arguments continue among the general population between friends and family.  We all know controversy is good for business and the consumer.   I feel herbal medicine is very helpful when pharmaceutical medicine is not available or worth the risk.

As I was curious about the history of herbal remedies, I went looking for information.  I found that remedies were used by Egyptians, Romans, Britain, Indian and many others.  I kind of already knew this and wanted confirmation for this article.  Humans have been on earth for centuries finding remedies among their environment.  As civilization has grown humans want a quick fix and it comes with a price of adverse reactions.  Most pharmaceuticals are plant based extracts made in large quantities and packed in a convenient pill for the general human population.

I have friends that swear by pharmaceuticals because they take them or work in research to make them.  They feel since they are regulated by the government that they are safe for consumption.  They are afraid of herbals because they are not regulated or tested by the FDA.  Although the FDA does require certain things on the label such as:

The name of the herbal

The name and address of manufacturer or distributor

A complete list of ingredients

Serving size, amount and active ingredient

The FDA can also responsible to monitoring the safety of an herbal to the public.  Manufactures need to follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and claim they support the body if they have supporting research.   I am a proponent for herbal remedies because I figure if Mother Nature made it then it has possibilities to help me.  I tend to think more like native Indians and live with the earth to help everyone.  Sorry if that sounds Pochahaontus like. 

My story is that I have always been a natural girl grown to woman and concerned with animal life more than plant life.   As I have had various health problems I have mixed herbal remedies with pharmaceutical.  I must caution people to talk with a doctor when doing this because some pharmaceutical don’t mix well with herbals.  Every winter season I was sick with bronchitis from 1986 to 2005.  I was at the point my lungs were becoming compromised from the years of sickness and I was more prone to pneumonia, which I got walking pneumonia in 2005.  In the 90s I was taking Robitussin cough syrup like it was juice every winter season.  One day I decided there had to be a way to help my lungs and body heal so I found Traditional Medicinal teas and drank Herbtussin.  To this day I still drink it when I get a nasty chest cold.  The warm tea feels great, soothing my chest with herbs and warming love.  It taste much better then Robitussin and is probably cheaper because I get a whole box of teas instead of teaspoons of syrup.

The last two and a half years my body has been fighting the west Nile virus -WNV and medical science has no answers for me.  I decided to dive into the natural medicine to help alleviate some of my pain because the drugs I was given had side effects worse than WNV.  I have also learned from the past to be careful when mixing herbal medicine because they can cause hallucinations if you mix them wrong.  Now I do my research prior to taking an herbal remedy and I talk to people to see if my friends have used it.  That is the friends that are interested in herbal remedies.  I feel my body is able to fight off the WNV and any other illness my weak immune system is vulnerable to.  The morning peppermint tea helps my headaches and nausea to start the day right. This was a remedy from my grandmother and has worked wonders for many others with headaches. 

Herbal remedies work by synergistically helping the whole body heal itself.   Pharmaceuticals are a band aid for the real problem that causes a sick body.  Herbal remedies are a personal choice, with research and good advice may help heal your body.