| Herbal medicine has made headlines in recent years. | | | | |
| Not all of these headlines have been particularly | | | | For more details : |
| favorable, but is it deserved? Interest in herbal medicine | | | | |
| is anything from new. | | | | |
| | | | | Remedies to sickness derived from herbs have been |
| Remedies to sickness derived from herbs have been | | | | big news for centuries. Physicians in ancient China, |
| big news for centuries. Physicians in ancient China, | | | | India, Egypt and even South America relied upon herbs |
| India, Egypt and even South America relied upon herbs | | | | for their healing properties as long as history has been |
| for their healing properties as long as history has been | | | | recording medical breakthroughs. |
| recording medical breakthroughs. | | | | |
| | | | | Some of the medical treatments lavished on ailing |
| Some of the medical treatments lavished on ailing | | | | persons by doctors centuries ago, like bloodletting, |
| persons by doctors centuries ago, like bloodletting, | | | | proved to be ill advised at best. Doctors of today |
| proved to be ill advised at best. Doctors of today | | | | know more. Modern medical science has been both a |
| know more. Modern medical science has been both a | | | | blessing and a curse. The modern marvels of western |
| blessing and a curse. The modern marvels of western | | | | medicine improve and save lives all over the world. |
| medicine improve and save lives all over the world. | | | | Yet no one is asking at what cost? |
| Yet no one is asking at what cost? | | | | |
| | | | | More and more herbal medicine is being toss aside, |
| More and more herbal medicine is being toss aside, | | | | dismissed, and outright mocked. Searching the |
| dismissed, and outright mocked. Searching the | | | | headlines for defaming explanations is a largely useless |
| headlines for defaming explanations is a largely useless | | | | exercise. Most of the headlines devoted to herbal |
| exercise. Most of the headlines devoted to herbal | | | | based medicine are favorable. In fact many |
| based medicine are favorable. In fact many | | | | breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical field are based on |
| breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical field are based on | | | | creating a synthetic compound that mimics the effect |
| creating a synthetic compound that mimics the effect | | | | of an herb or combination of herbs on the body. |
| of an herb or combination of herbs on the body. | | | | |
| | | | | Why not just take the herbs? The synthetic |
| Why not just take the herbs? The synthetic | | | | derivatives are mere copies and can pose significant |
| derivatives are mere copies and can pose significant | | | | health risks. What’s the point of taking a pill to cure |
| health risks. What’s the point of taking a pill to cure | | | | one illness only to create another? Headlines in medical |
| one illness only to create another? Headlines in medical | | | | journals tout the healing properties of one herb only to |
| journals tout the healing properties of one herb only to | | | | negate all the positive findings by stating more |
| negate all the positive findings by stating more | | | | research is necessary. After centuries of successful |
| research is necessary. After centuries of successful | | | | use, how much more research could possibly be |
| use, how much more research could possibly be | | | | necessary? |
| necessary? | | | | |
| | | | | Headlines and news clips are great, but good health is |
| Headlines and news clips are great, but good health is | | | | the best thing of all. Herbal medicines have been |
| the best thing of all. Herbal medicines have been | | | | helping people feel better for years and should not be |
| helping people feel better for years and should not be | | | | forgotten. |
| forgotten. | | | | |