The Herbal Alternative

Plants are nature’s remedies. The use of plants for healing purposes predates human history and forms the origin of much modern medicine. Herbal traditions have been passed down and refined with scientific understanding, providing information to assist in health maintenance.

Today, our diet mainly consists of foods rich in fats, oils, and complex carbohydrates. These have become problems in today's society, both leading to certain chronic diseases. Many dietary and herbal approaches attempt to balance the body's nutritional well-being. This includes dietary supplements and herbal medicine.

Herbal products (medicines/dietary supplements) fall under the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) which refers to the practices that aren’t integral parts of conventional medicine according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Herbs are valuable sources of natural medicine, vitamins and minerals that have a remarkable history of curative effects, when used in the proper way. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that there are 4 billion people or 80 percent of the world population who are presently using herbal medicine for some aspect of primary healthcare.

Herbal treatments may come in different forms. These are:

• Teas made by pouring boiling water over fresh or dried herbs
• Liquids made by boiling herbs in water, then using the concoction to make oils or syrups
• Solids such as powders, tablets and capsules

Although herbs have both nutritive and medicinal values and perceived as generally safe, care must be practiced with regard to their use and dosage. Always consult with your health care provider concerning the use of herbals, especially when pregnant, breastfeeding, or with chronic illness.