Healthy Living Ministries

By Tess Thompson

Herbs and herbal remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/ have been around for as long as we know. Natural remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/ were mainstream therapies that were used before modern medicine reached the East.

However, the basis of many early conventional medicines lay in natural herbs. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, once prescribed willow bark, whose active ingredient, salicyclic acid, ultimately led to the discovery of aspirin when it was isolated. Over time other synthetic drugs were also produced. With the advancement in medical science and the emergence of new synthetic drugs, nature’s remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/ were relegated to a secondary position in the East.

Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in herbs across the world. The renewed interests are mainly due to a realization of the adverse effects of conventional medicine. The search for an alternative to conventional synthetic medicine has led people back to oriental, traditional and herbal medicine.  There is also a curiosity to understand how herbal healing actually works.

As part of their normal metabolic process, plants produce chemical compounds called metabolites. There are basically two types of metabolites - primary and secondary. Primary metabolites are sugars and fats and are found in all plants.

Secondary metabolites are mostly phytochemicals that are biologically active but not nutritive. These are created as part of a more complex process and are found in a smaller number of plant species. The biochemical processes that produce these secondary metabolites change based on the variety of microorganisms, herbivores and pollinators present in the locality. This results in a change in the chemical profile of such a plant according to the environment.

It is the secondary metabolites that have therapeutic value in treating human and animal diseases. Although there is an astonishing variety of phytochemicals produced by plants, most of them fall under four general categories - alkaloids, turpenoids, carotenoids and glycosides.

Alkaloids are natural bases that contain nitrogen. Many alkaloids have a striking affect on the central nervous system. Caffeine, an alkaloid, lifts mood to some extent. The alkaloids in datura (thorn apple) are extremely toxic and hallucinogenic.

Many herbs used in homeopathic remedies are also poisonous in their unadulterated form. The dilution and succession that is typical to producing a homeopathic medicine reduces the ratio of the poisonous herb and transforms it to its therapeutic dose. That is why it is always suggested that herbs and herbal supplements should be taken only after thorough study or after consultation with an expert.

The herbal healing process involves multiple compounds that work together to heal. These compounds complement each other and produce a better healing effect. Furthermore, multiple compounds in herbs have accompanying benefits of promoting the body’s own capacity of self healing. Single compounds tend to become ineffective as bacteria metabolize them to develop resistance over time.

By Tess Thompson

Many spices and herbs that we normally use as seasoning on food have useful medicinal properties and this characteristic was exploited ages ago by our ancestors. They used them as herbal remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/ for protection against food borne pathogens.

Many plants produce substances, particularly alkaloids, to protect themselves from attack from insects, microorganisms and herbivores. These include aromatic flowers, roots and bark, which produce phenols or their oxygenated derivatives such as tannins. Many of them are secondary substances that are involved in metabolism either directly or indirectly. All these properties are useful for maintaining the health of humans as well as animals.

Indigenous plants have been in use over continents as natural remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/ for treatment of ailments. Evidence, dating as back as 60,000 years ago, exists to show that Neanderthals used medicinal plants to treat specific ailments. Along with skeletons, pollen of some specific herbs that was not naturally present in the soil in adjacent areas of

in

was found. On further analysis it was discovered to be of Yarrow, Cornflower, Bachelor’s Button, St. Barnaby’s Thistle, Ragwort or Groundsel, Grape Hyacinth, Joint Pine or Woody Horsetail and Hollyhock, all of which have been in use as diuretics, stimulants, astringents and for their anti-inflammatory effect.

However, the first generally accepted evidence (radiocarbon dated for 13000 – 25000 BC) was found in cave paintings in

caves in

. A man frozen in the Swiss Alps for more than 5300 years ago was found to possess herbal medicine http://www.nativeremedies.com/ that he apparently used to treat parasites in his intestines. 

Despite such discoveries, very little has been done on the subject of herbal medicine, However, it faces assault from conventionalists who refuse to accept the efficacy of natural remedies. This is despite the proven efficacy of homeopathy. It is indeed surprising that many drugs available to doctors, such as opium, aspirin, digitalis and quinine are derived from herbs and have a long proven history as curative herbs.

There seems to be an uncanny campaign against herbal medicine to discredit it. Probably this is because herbs and natural products cannot be patented and used by big corporations to their monetary advantage. The fact that the FDA acknowledges very few herbs as useful does not help either and leaves only folklore and anecdotal evidence as its only support.

The scene as it is today is however encouraging. Recently there has been a surge in popularity of safer treatment modalities, which nature has provided for the benefit of mankind. Herbal medicine has been and still is the mainstay of under-developed societies. Due to the negative effects of conventional drugs, presented in the shape of side effects and the inability of allopathic drugs to remove the root cause of the disease, herbal medicine and supplements are fast catching the fancy of the discerning public in industrialized nations also.

By Tess Thompson

Considering the running around that we have to do to make a living it is natural that we are always pressed for time. The days when mothers made it a point that everyone had home cooked food and that too in peace seem to be a thing of the past. Apparently we never seem to have enough time to sit down and eat nor to pay attention to what we are eating.

Our body was never meant to consume chemicals and toxic substances. Despite advertisements to the contrary we do not know what actually goes in to increase shelf life of ready to eat snack bars that are touted as nutritional supplements. The less said about commercial foods, junk foods and fast foods the better it is. They all seem to focus on our taste buds with scant regard to their effect on our health.

The next threat comes from conventional medications. Despite vociferous warnings that certain drugs should not be taken without a proper prescription and that too only in recommended doses, there is an alarming tendency to self medicate. Conventional drugs are based on single compounds that bacteria can easily use to their own advantage. They can become resistant to it over time. New discoveries too, meet the same fate.

Herbal remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/, contrary to conventional drugs, comprise of complex compounds that are difficult for bacteria to metabolize and use for colonization. This secret of nature’s remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/ was used for the benefit of mankind by ancient and traditional therapies like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Homeopathy is the latest entrant to this field of natural remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/ that uses herbs, minerals and metals to prepare remedies using a typical process of dilution without using anything that does not occur naturally.

Herbal remedies make use of any or all components of a plant, tree or shrub including roots, flowers, bark, fruit and even branches. They come in different formulations meant for topical application and oral intake for medicinal purposes, as well as natural supplements.

Besides being non-toxic and devoid of side effects, herbal remedies treat the sickness as well as the root cause of the condition - an attribute missing in allopathic treatments. Along with these, herbs boost immunity and enhance the body’s defenses and increase the ability to combat invasion of foreign pathogens.

Contrary to the general belief, herbs have antibiotic properties also. Goldenseal and garlic have natural antibiotic and anti viral properties. Licorice soothes throat, ginger prevents blood clots that are harbingers of heart diseases and herbal teas help soothe tension. Similarly there are herbs that can address respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological and sexual problems as well. In many cases herbal remedies can even help in managing side effects of aggressive treatments like chemotherapy.

The only word of caution is that certain herbs are toxic to the level of being poisonous in their undiluted form and should be taken only in specific potencies. In this aspect, homeopathy is the safest as it has a perfect system of dilution in place.

By Tess Thompson

The word drug is derived from druug, Swedish for ‘dried plants’. A large proportion of the early conventional medicines and drugs that were discovered, originated from plants. Aspirin was originally developed after isolating acetysalicyclic acid from a plant known as meadowsweet (Latin: Spiraea). Quinine has its origins in cinchona, medicinal bark of the cinchona tree. Morphine and codeine have their roots in poppy plant.

However, there are certain aspects that differentiate conventional drugs from herbal remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/ and homeopathic remedies, as well. These are:

• Conventional drugs are based on a single compound that is isolated from herbs or plants. On the other hand, therapies that are based on natural remedies http://www.nativeremedies.com/, use the entire herb without isolating the active ingredient. This is done on the belief that a combination of compounds produces a better therapeutic value and work together to reduce toxicity.
• Chemicals and synthetics are used in the manufacturing process for conventional medicine. In many cases the compound is synthesized. Herbal remedies do not use chemicals or synthetic products during the process of preparing a remedy. In fact, synthetic products are not used even as catalysts or aiding agents in the preparation of herbal or homeopathic products.

The harshest criticism of herbal supplements http://www.nativeremedies.com/ and remedies is that many herbs are toxic in nature and that they can be dangerous to ingest. It is a known fact that some herbs are extremely toxic in nature. However, herbalists profess that the preparation process of herbal medicines ensures that the toxic effect is negated. Homeopathy makes use of even poisonous plants and herbs to arrive at suitable remedies.

Nux vomica and rhus toxicodendron are two commonly prescribed homeopathic remedies and both of them are prepared from toxic plants. Lachesis muta, on the other hand, is made from the venom of bushmaster snake. To understand how these poisonous substances are converted from poisons to remedy it is necessary to know the basics of how a homeopathic remedy is prepared.

Remedy, in homeopathy does not have the common meaning that we all are conversant with. In homeopathy it is a technical term applied to herbs, plants, minerals, live specimens or any other natural substance that has undergone a specific procedure so as to be able to treat a patient (not a disease).

Homeopathic remedies are prepared using a process called ‘potentisation’. The basic ingredient is diluted in water or alcohol and vigorously shaken ten times against an elastic body. The process is repeated with further dilutions based on the potency that is required. During this process, known as succussion, the vital energy of the natural remedy is activated and released. The curative properties of the ingredient are also transferred to the diluting liquid. Contrary to general belief, higher the dilution and succession, the higher the potency of the remedy!

The end product is completely natural and the original herb, plant, natural substance or poison is present in a negligible ratio

Homeopathy is based on the principle of ‘similar treats similar’, which means that a symptom caused by a substance is cured by the same substance.

Conventionalist may find it difficult to believe that such huge dilution can have any therapeutic value but homeopathy has remedies that produce positive results if prepared, prescribed and taken according to the principles defined by homeopathy.