Herbal Medicine for Beginners
Herbal medicine, also known as alternative medicine or “going natural” is the science of using herbs for promoting health and preventing and treating illness. The term, Herb, just means using the therapeutic part of the plant for medicinal purposes.
Since the beginning of time, our ancestors have depended on the use of herbs for healing and preventing illnesses. Herbal medicine has been the world's primary form of medicine since the beginning of time, with a written history more than 5000 years old. While the use of herbs in the western world has been overshadowed by dependence on big pharma the last 100 years, 75% of the world's population still rely primarily upon traditional healing practices, most of which is herbal medicine.
The reason why it is so important to educate yourself on alternative medicine is that it is an ALTERNATIVE to your prescription medications.
This article is in no way trying to persuade you into herbal medicine or to persuade you to stop taking your medications. It is important that you have an understanding, education and the discipline to choose one or the other.
I made the decision to limit my intake on Ibuprofen, Advil and other over the counter drug medications well before I understood herbal medicine. I realized during that process that I had become reliant on those medications as many others. Medication should not be addicting, or cause addiction nor should you be reliant on them.
What happened to healing? Did it become extinct or out of style? How many people do you personally know that are healed? I know people that have their pain, ailments, or any afflictions temporary relieved. However, those afflictions come back like a boomerang!
Pharmaceutical medicine believes in curing the disease at hand. Herbal medicine believes in healing the body as a whole. If someone has reoccurring headaches an herbalist finds the root problem to those headaches so that you no longer experience them. Some would just take some Ibuprofen to clear the headache.
Herbs can offer you a wide range of safe and effective therapeutic agents that you can implement as a part of your own health care routine. Below are ways you can implement them. (However, for major health concerns I wouldn’t take these into your own hands but to consult with an herbal doctor (herbalist) for advice, just as you would a doctor in the modern medicine world.)
to prevent disease
to treat disease
to maximize one's health potential
Herbs are also used for the symptomatic relief of minor ailments.
Many medications that we take are made from medicinal plants and have added toxins and chemicals. Some are even made from the toxic part of the plant instead of the safe part of the plant so that you are relieved at the moment but now have added issues to your list of health problems. You will forever be dependent on them and their medicine.
It’s a lot easier to take a pill regularly instead of dealing with the issue at hand, finding the root of it and working to heal it.
For beginners, I recommend consulting with an herbalist such as myself or if you already know one before you dive into treating yourself. You do not have to abuse herbs or over do them. Do not confuse them with over the counter drugs. Sometimes you must take herbs a certain amount of times a day for only two weeks and you’d see significant changes in your health. But with this, there comes sacrifice. Changing the way you eat, cutting out alcohol intake, limit the amount you smoke, exercising more etc.
In my own testimony, I was ruining my body and immune system while in college. Between getting sick a lot, socially drinking, terrible eating habits, constant dehydration, lack of sleep and stress beyond measure, I was always sick, and my blood pressure wasn’t where it should be on top of being anemic. Being on this journey to restoring my health and staying away from over the counter drugs, I have not felt better. I can honestly say that I feel healthier now than ever before. I am still on this journey and I had to share.
Herbal Substitutes for Common Medications
If you’re looking for an herbal remedy as an alternative for some common medications, take a look at this chart to see what can be substituted. See your doctor or herbalist about persistent, serious conditions.
Medication Herbal Alternative
Purchase any one of these alternatives here at the Herbal Compass!
In summary,
With trying out anything new, always do your own research. Consult with your doctor about safely merging into natural medicine. Reach out to local herbalists like myself for advice on what to take and the dosages. Many of your modern day medicines were derived from herbs.
Now with technology only 15% of those medications still have some herbs in them but most of them are overpowered with chemicals. Meaning that alchemists saw the power in herbs and how they worked, however also realized that if people could be healed there would be zero business opportunity for them.
You have a choice, just make the right one for YOU.