Herbs have been used for health benefits as well as healing properties for a very long time. Many of the current pharmaceutical drugs, roughly 25 percent of them, on the market today are derivatives of plants.
A good definition of an herb is any plant material that is used to boost overall health or to alleviate unwanted symptoms. Considered “alternative medicineâ€, herbal medicine is the use of plants, plant extracts or plant preparations to improve health.
Both medicinal plants and synthetic drugs contain compounds that alter body processes-the whole point of using them to treat illnesses. They are used to change things from bad to better.
Herbs and synthetic drugs differ in many ways. Most herbs are less potent than drugs dose for dose and this can be a good thing because they are safer to use. Drugs are most frequently used in a severe or painful condition. But herbs are the better choice when strong medication is not required. Perhaps a cup of chamomile tea will be the preferred treatment for an average tension headache instead of aspirin. This course of action lowers the risk of undesirable side effects.
The lack of side effects in herbal remedies is a big reason for their increased popularity. Reading the label of even over the counter drug remedies will make you stop and think if you really want to ingest those chemicals into your body. Just reading the side effects for cold remedies or even any blood pressure medication may make you feel worse than the condition itself.
Most herbal medications are safe for most individuals, but pregnant or nursing mothers and infant use should be carefully considered. All herbal products should be used responsibly and they can cause harm when treated carelessly.
Many skeptical doctors warn against the effects of herbs. In part they are right because dosage and potency can vary with each individual plant and each company that puts that product on the market.
One company I have found to offer safe herbal products that one can use without fear of fluctuating potency is the Shaklee Corporation. Shaklee runs a rigorous testing program before, during and after their products are bottled and ready for sale.
Dallas Health Helpers alternative nutritional supplement source is about being healthy without drugs or synthetics. Call 214.871.9596 or email us to learn more about vitality and health.
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