Herbal Remedies

1. Herbal Remedies Looking at Herbal Remedies

2. Herbal Medicine through the Years • Herbal medicine- also known as called botanical medicine or phytomedicine—refers to using a plant’s seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark or flower for medical perposes. • Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. • Ancient Chinese, Egyptions, Africans, and Native Americans have used herbal medicine for many years.

3. Herb Usage • Herbal supplements are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHA) of 1994. • Herbal supplements that are commonly used in the U.S. include echinacea, St. John’s Wort, ginkgo, garlic, saw palmetto, and ginseng. • Many times the herbs are combined to be more effective and have fewer side effects.

4. What Conditions Herbs are Good For • Herbal supplements are best taken under the guidance of a trained health care provider. • Herbal medicine has been used to treat conditions such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migrane, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and cancer. • Other conditions would include stress, depression, immune system enhancer, sleeping disorders.

5. Herbal Remedies Precautions • If used correctly, herbal remedies can treat many conditons with fewer side affect than conventional medications. • Because herbal remedies are unregulated, care must be taken because they may have additives and contaminants that are not listed on the labels • Some herbs may cause allergic reactions or interact with conventional drugs, and some are toxic if used improperly or at high doses so consult a health care professional before use.

6. Who is using Herbal Medicine • The use of herbal medicine has increased in the past 30 years. • Herbal Medicine is taken by nearly one third of American’s. • Herbalists, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, pharmacists, medical doctors, and pratitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine all may use herbs to treat illness.

7. Finding Herbalist in your Area • There are Herbalist in your area, it is difficult to find them because people do not know where to look. • The local Health food store should have a list of Herbalist in your area. Also your doctor should be able to refer you. • On the web you can go to: www.naturopathic.org or www.americanhrbalistguild.com

8. Future of Herbal Medicine • In other countries herbs are classified as drugs and are regulated. • Is this the future for herbs in the United States, to be regulated? • Herbal medicine is being taught more in medical schools and pharmacy schools even though it is not widely accepted. • Herbal medicine is being used with conventional medicine by doctors to treat many different conditons.

9. My Thoughts • Herbal medicine has been around for thousands of years but we have moved away from it to conventional medicine. It seems that this is changing, that people are moving back to the use of herbal medicine. Many find that the use of herbs are safer, with less side affects and that they are getting better with their use. With more doctors including the use of herbs with their prescription drugs, herbs are making a comeback.

10. Research page: • To find out more about this topic you should consult: • http://nccam.nih.gov/ This website has lots of information about herbs and CAM • http://www.alternative-therapies.com/ This website has information about alternative therapies and their use of herbs. • http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/resources.html This website tells about all different types of herbal medicine, alternative medicine, and what’s new.

11. Reference: • http://healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/resources.html • http://www.mayoclinic.com/ • http://nccam.nih.gov/ • http://www.alternative-therapies.com/