Jon Davis
It seems that almost every day we come across a story in a newspaper or magazine which raises concerns about the use, misuse, or overuse of a specific pharmaceutical remedy in the treatment of minor ailments, or serious medical conditions. Often these stories are quickly disreputable as being ill-informed or based on insufficient evidence, perhaps medical opinion is divided, or specific experts in the field prefer to wait for an extended period of time, maybe years, in order to ascertain the safety, or otherwise of these commonly old remedies. This is not to criticise medical science, or its practitioners, who must rely on objective and statistically valid evidence before giving an skilled opinion. However, it is little wonder that many of us turn to herbal remedies, either as a supplement, or as an alternative to factory-made pharmaceutical products. There is a reassurance in that uncomplicated word “herbal”, attractive us back to simpler times, when there was infinitesimal choice in how to treat our day to day bodily malfunctions, aches and pains and we made use of what was available to us, perhaps in our own back gardens!
Are herbal remedies the answer? Surely if they have been in use since men and women first walked on the Earth they must be both effective and safe? The answer to this, as to many questions, is “Yes” and “No”, or equal “Well it's not as simple as that.” In the past, herbal remedies were often administered or recommended by one particular person in the neighbourhood, frequently a woman, (probably regarded as a witch), who was an skilled in her field. This person would have studied and learned, by trial and error, active the efficacy and safety (or otherwise) of the product she was supplying. Herbal remedies may be natural, but that does not make them harmless and we need to be healed informed about the optimum dosage as well as active possible side effects and what are called “contra-indications” in the medical profession. After all, before a doctor prescribes a drug to you, s/he will refer to your medical history and question you active your lifestyle. We need to be equally cautious in self-prescribing, and take advantage of information and advice that is available to us from time-tested sources.
Should herbal remedies be regarded as an alternative, or a antonymous supplement to nonrepresentational medicine? We need to use our common sense in this matter. If a herbal product appears to be effective in treating a minor condition, then by complete means use it instead of resorting to a factory-made product, with possibly dubious side effects. As regards much serious and equal life threatening conditions, it seems foolish to reject the offerings of new science, which for the most part have a tested record in alleviating suffering and prolonging life, whether or not they also cause undesirable side-effects. Herbal remedies may in these cases be used in a complementary way, if this is appropriate. Let us also not forget that many widely used conventional medications are based on a herbal product, (aspirin and digitalis to name retributory two), so we may be using a herbal supported product without being aware of it. Herbal and nonrepresentational pharmaceutical remedies are not always mutually exclusive.
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