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« Herbal Effectiveness »

The Lair

Herbs have been used for thousands of years in every culture, and in almost every way. The ancient Romans used herbs for cleansing properties, as well as preserving foods. In Asia, herbs have been used, not only for health, but also in “age-defying complexion creams” (Harrar and O’Donnell, 2). In Europe herbs were used to combat illnesses and infections, as well as emotion-soothing mixtures and simples, as Lavender. Even Native Americans were very familiar with the uses of herbs, and in South America herbs are still used to provide poisons with which to tip spears.
Herbs, when used as medicine, fall under several categories. They are defined as alternative medicine, which is any health-promoting regimen that does not include allopathic medicine (conventional pills and doctors). Alternative medicine also includes chiropractic, naturopathic, homeopathic and traditional Chinese therapies (acupuncture, massage and Chinese Medicine) (CLJ Health). Herbs are also described as holistic, which means they treat the body as a whole, instead of breaking it down into parts, as allopathic medicine does. They do work in specific ways, however. And there are also several advantages to choosing herbs over chemical drugs. Herbology is also segregated into countries, and the practice in the U.S. has some interesting developments. There are, however, cautions that do need to be taken when using herbs, and only an educated herbalist should dispense simples (one-herb) or mixtures. And finally, the body of research surrounding the practice of herbalism today is growing, and the practice is becoming more widely accepted.


Herbs work through many different ways. One of the reasons herbs are preferred over chemical medicines, is that an herb contains many different properties that complement each other, and usually improve effectiveness, as well as gentling the action. The actions of herbs include;
Bitters; improve digestion
Flavonoids; strengthening of blood vessel walls, protect cellular damage, ease water retention, inflammation and muscle spasms
Volatile oils; antiseptic action and stress relief, enhance appetite, stimulate circulation and relieve water retention
Alkaloids; fight bacterial and fungal infections. Cautions needed
Gums and Resins; lower cholesterol
Mucilage; ease constipation, and mucus membrane irritation (coughs)
Saponins; expectorants (reduce coughs), strengthen blood vessels, regulate hormones and counteract stress
Tannins; astringent action that protects and heals skin and mucous membranes (includes black tea)
Anthraquinones; stimulate bile production, aid in digestion and liver healing
(Harrar and O’Donnell, 14)


Many herbalists have a similar viewpoint on using herbs. They believe that herbs, unlike traditional medicines, do not treat symptoms, but the underlying problem. Herbs also work to strengthen the body, and have excellent results when used for emotional disorders. Herbalists say the instead of trying to use herbs to relieve physical or emotional ailments, we should also look at what the ailment is trying to say. As Harrar and O’Donnell state; “Balancing life with nature is just one path to emotional well-being. A healthy diet and lifestyle are vital. So is living in a creative, supportive, and fulfilling environment, Hoffman notes. ……”The body and the mind aren’t separate,” says Brigitte Mars…”our physical and emotions parts are intertwined.”” (428) There are several differences and similarities between herbs and chemically derived drugs/ medicines.

Similarities
-Plants are the source of herbal medicines and many pharmaceutical drugs
-Both herbs and drugs contain compounds that alter processes in the body
-Both herbs and drugs must be used with caution
-Herbs and drugs are studied similarly; they use randomized, placebo-controlled, double blind trials

Differences
-Per dose, herbs tend to be less potent than drugs
-Drugs usually contain one chemical compound either extracted from plants or made synthetically, and are packed in specific dosages. Herbs provide a mixture of many compounds that work together for medicinal purposes.
-Herbs usually have fewer side effects than drugs
-Drugs are prepared in standard amounts so that each user gets the same dose. Herbs are often prepared in liquid form so that each used gets only the amount they need.
-Herbs cost less than drugs used for comparable problems
-Herbs work to balance the body, while drugs are used to treat a specific problem or condition
-Herbs have no chemical residues from binders or preservatives
-Herbs treat the cause, not the effect
-Herbs have long-term results and revitalize the body’s’ natural immune system (Altmedseeker 1, and CLJ Health 3)


When looking at using herbs vs. drugs, safety is a large factor. Many people, Americans especially, have been taught that if doctors use a medicine, it must be safe. In reality, Herb Research Foundation president, Rob McCaleb points out that “… those that embrace conventional medicine put themselves in danger. The Journal of the American Medical Association reported this year that over 100,000 Americans die each year from conventional drugs, not counting those that overdose or abuse the drugs. Over 2 million are injured each year. No one have suggested that even a fraction of these numbers of fatalities and injuries result from supplement (herb) use.” (3) He also presents that “Over half of approved drugs are discovered to have “serious post-approval side effects” requiring them to be removed from sale or restricted from use by significant groups in the population... only 10-20% of procedures and drugs used in hospitals have been subjected to rigorous research.” (3)
Seeing all the benefits of herbal remedies and medicines, it is confusing why herbs aren’t used and promoted more in the U.S. Herbs are popularly used by medical professionals in all other countries of the world, and especially in England, Australia and Asia. Jean Carper points out that since “nature owns the patent”, there is little financial incentive for American pharmaceutical companies to investigate natural compounds. Secondly, most American doctors are simply unaware of the testing that has been done on these techniques; most research is done overseas, or by non-English speaking physicians, and written up in foreign journals. As McCaleb states in the press release, “Many herbs are approved drugs in other modern nations, including Germany, Australia and Canada, but FDA regulations make drug approval too expensive for nonpatentable herbs in the U.S.” (2) Using herbs still requires caution and experience. The number of herbalists is growing, but there is still not a federal certification for herbalists. There are courses to take, and informal certificates are issued, making it necessary to use caution when obtaining herbs and information related to their uses. Although herbs must pass the FDA regulation and have even stricter requirements when sold in mixtures, they can have dangerous results if not used with care. It is the responsibility of the practitioner, herbalist or pharmacist to research the supplier sufficiently to assure a reputable product. (Stafford, 2) Many herbs also need to be used in conjunction, or not used together at all, as they cancel each other out, or can lessen/ promote the effectiveness. As McCaleb states, “The herb Research Foundation mission is to educate the public, health practitioners, pharmacists and the media about the latest scientific research on herbs. Safe and responsible use of herbs is the prime concern of the Foundation. HRF has tracked the reports of poison centers, the CDC, World Health Organization mortality data, and other safety monitoring systems for more than 15 years and has found the overall record of safety for herbs to be exemplary. The HRF library, containing over 200,000 scientific articles and books, provides scientific support for the safety and effectiveness of herbs.” (McCaleb, 2)