Importance Of Medicinal Plants

In personal health, there is a big lifetime decision to be made. Presented with two basic options, pharmaceutical medicines and herbal medicines, the choice must be made when the situation of illness arrives, which form of medication will be taken? First, the differences between the two types of medicines must be studies and understood by the user. According to the U.S Food and Drug Administration, a drug is defined as, “A substance (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body” (Center…). With this in mind, both herbs and scientifically produced medications are to be considered ‘drugs’.

An increasing number of medical schools are now offering courses in alternative medicine for their students, and some hospitals already have alternative medicine departments. The availability of healers and doctors practicing holistic medicine has also increased in recent years, and more and more people are educating themselves in these new fields. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that between 65 and 80 percent of the world’s population (about 3 billion people) rely on traditional medicine as their primary form of health care.

Native American traditional medicine and spiritual healing rituals go back for thousands of years, these traditions often focus on different variations of alternative medicine. This knowledge is passed on throughout generations, many of the tribes learn that by mixing natural plants such as herbs and roots they can make remedies with healing properties. It is believed that being healthy is when people reach a state of harmony not only spiritually, mentally but physically. To be able to overcome the forces that cause illness people must “operate in the context of relationship to four constructs —namely, spirituality (Creator, Mother Earth, Great Father); community (family, clan, tribe/nation); environment (daily life, nature, balance); and self (inner passions and peace, thoughts, and values)” (Portman & Garret, 2006, p.453). In this research paper I am going to show evidence of the tremendous influence that Native American medicine and spiritual healing have over modern medicine in the course of healing

Native Americans who occupied the land before the arrival of the Europeans possessed a vast knowledge of botanical medicines that intrigued the newcomers. The natives mixed roots, herbs, and plants to cure various medical maladies. Healing for the natives were not just herbal remedies,

No matter how amazing and advanced our technology is, we still can’t do some of the basic things that nature can for us. Research reveals that being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces stress, fear, anger and increases pleasant feelings (Turning to Nature for Inspiration). We are genetically programmed to find trees, plants, water, and other nature elements enthralling. We absorb the nature scenes and get distracted from our pain and discomfort (Turning to Nature for Inspiration). In the field of medicine, many of the lifesaving drugs have been made from plants. The rosy periwinkle is a five- petaled flower native to Madagascar and is a herbal medicine (Rosy periwinkle: A life saving plant). It is used in the treatment of the neck, head, and liver and has been

The use of natural products as medicine has initiated the isolation of active compounds. The first commercial pure natural product introduced for therapeutic use is generally considered to be

Thesis: Efficacy of traditional herbal remedies combined with a cultural faith in those traditions, combats modern medicine 's inherent distrust of traditional healing.

The study of alternative medicine originated in China during the Austrian Empire and has developed since the eighteenth century.

This class has been vital in providing me with a new perspective on different types of alternative medicine and practices. Although there were some lectures which came across to me as a bit hard to believe, such as Scott Roos’s Ayurveda lecture, in the end all of these different methods of healing and self-betterment gave me a new understanding of the importance of alternative types of medicine. And even with the rather far-fetch topics, if they ultimately have worked for people, even without scientific backing, then who are we to judge what is the right or wrong way. For the most part, my knowledge of medicine was backed mainly by the western medicine I was exposed to growing up,

“Traditional pharmacologic therapies although widely used must be assessed for a favorable risk-benefit ratio. One such plant that has

Though the question does not indicate whether the word has negative or positive associations the majority of participants chose words that expressed either full support for the idea or skepticism and words that pain “natural medicine” in a negative light. Out of the 12 answers two were devoid of any type of connotation, such as; herbal and from the land. These two were the outliers to the rest of the answers, which were on opposite sides of a spectrum, one positive the other negative. Five answers held the theme that “natural medicine” is a more thorough medicine two examples being; holistic and wellness. The other five words given held more negative tones, such as; placebo and dated. The two themes that were present in the negatively associated

A herbalist or botanic physician is one whose therapeutics are confined to the use of herbs, roots, barks, seeds, flowers, and berries. It is self-evident, therefore, that a real herbalist or botanic physician is a true, natural phycians. His aid is confined to the substances, which Mother Nature has so bountifully provided; those substances that are organic in their chemistry, that is endowed with life, and is harmonious with the chemistry of a man. This is diametrically opposed to the pernicious practice of administering poisons, serums, vaccines,

Herbal medicine has been used for many, many years and is a great natural alternative to modern medicine.

Modern medicine and healthcare system have categorized herbal medicine as a natural remedy used when people can’t afford to purchase conventional drugs. They are perceived inferior because they cost less but the health benefits are endless. However, there have been various situations and instances that prove that herbal medicine is good for health.

“Traditional medicine has a broad range of characteristics and elements of which herbal medicine is an integral part. They are diverse health practicess, approaches, applied knowledge and beliefs that incorporate plant, animal and or mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises which are applied singularly or in combination to maintain well-being, as well as treat, diagnose or prevent illness” (Oreagba, 2011).