What are natural, herbal and homeopathic remedies?

What are natural, herbal and homeopathic remedies?

The adjective “natural” is used frequently and often loosely in our culture in connection with a variety of foods. One of the definitions of natural is something that relates to nature, has undergone little or no processing and does not contain any chemical additives or synthetic substances. Natural or alternative medicine therefore does not fall within the scope of conventional (Western) medicine. Examples of natural medicine would include traditional Chinese medicine (herbal), Ayurvedic medicine (Indian), and homeopathy.

The use of natural ingredients in herbs to treat viruses, pain, inflammation and disease has evolved over time in various cultures apart from conventional medicine. Herbal remedies are typically sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants.

What is an herbal remedy?

Herbal remedies are made from plant seeds, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal or therapeutic purposes. Herbs can be used individually or in combination to produce the remedy specifically formulated to treat and relieve the given symptoms or ailments.

Many conventional or “Western medicines” that are readily available and prescribed today were derived from plants. The use of herbs for medicine and healing has a long history, dating back to ancient cultures such as the Chinese, Egyptians, Indians and Africans.

Examples of mild medicinal herbs would be chamomile, hawthorn and peppermint. Examples of stronger herbs would be belladonna and digitalis. Today, herbal supplements are classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).

What are homeopathic remedies?

Homeopathy comes from the Greek words for homeo, meaning similar, and pathos, meaning suffering, and uses remedies made from extreme dilutions of plant, animal and mineral substances. The theory is that when a substance is used that would cause certain symptoms at full strength, the same substance can be used in a highly diluted amount to treat symptoms associated with that substance.

In simpler terms, this can be equated as the principle of equal healings. Instead of treating each symptom of a patient with different medications, a single homeopathic remedy is prescribed to treat the patient and all symptoms. Symptom relief is achieved by stimulating the body's defenses to promote healing. Small dosages are used to activate the body's natural defense system, while too much is used to worsen the condition.

Homeopathy is used for a range of health problems, from wellness and prevention to the treatment of diseases and conditions such as allergies, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, digestive disorders, ear infections, headaches and rashes.

In summary, natural or herbal or homeopathic treatments are viewed as alternative approaches to healthcare that focus on treating the cause of the disease or condition and not just the symptoms.