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Claire Edens
Mrs. Dunbar
Senior Project Paper
6 November 2014
Herbal Medicine: Alternative Healing
Looking at the side of a prescription bottle one might be shocked by the list of potential
side effects. Many people arent aware of all of the dangers directly correlated to the use of
prescription drugs. As society becomes more informed about the risks of what they use in their
day to day life, people begin looking for alternatives that could be more beneficial to the
individual as a whole, and thats where herbal medicine comes to play. Herbal medicine has a
long history of being used as a main source of healing to humankind. All medicines start with an
herbal base. The difference is, in herbal medicine the focus is on the plant whereas with
prescription drugs the plant base is built on by substances that chemically alter your body. Herbal
medicine is the underdog fighting for light in the shadows cast by the colossal pharmaceutical
drug companies. Alternative healing is beginning to come to light in a big way. Therefore it is
germane that society is well informed of its healing properties. The use and promotion of herbal
medicine has been prominent in society for centuries and the benefits of using herbal medicine
versus prescription drugs are astounding. Using herbal medicine has proven to not only be
beneficial for the body, but for society as a whole.
Since the beginning of ailments and sickness, plants have been used as medicine. All
around the world the healing properties of herbs are utilized because they are easily accessed,
cheaper, and more beneficial to the person as a whole than prescription drugs. Herbalists are still
identifying new plants and their properties every day. In the beginning, the uses of herbs werent

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known as fact, therefore assumptions were drawn sometimes simply by the appearance of the
plant. During the Middle Ages in Britain many people believed that herbs were signed by god
and that their appearance and characteristics revealed its medicinal uses. For example, Milk
Thistle was believed to promote milk flow of nursing mothers and Dandelions were assumed to
be good for Jaundice because of the yellow color (National Institute of Medical Herbalists 1).
More and more information is becoming readily available to those who are interested in natural
healing. In early times more ritualistic ways of approaching medicine were used and herbs were
heavily relied on. Ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal uses for
plants as early as 3,000 BC. Indigenous cultures (such as African and Native American) used
herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems (such as
Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used (University
of Maryland Medical Center, 1). Alternative medicine covers many different forms of healing
including physical and emotional healing and has benefited societies since the beginning of
medicine itself. Herbal alternatives have a long history because they have always been relevant
in the medical field. The reason it is still used today is the same reason it was used in the past:
its an extremely useful alternative to more harmful healing options. One might be surprised
when learning more about herbal medicine how prominent it really is in society.
Many people who do not favor herbal medicine to prescription drugs, dont have the facts
or they are simply misinformed. Herbal medicine, also known as herbalism or botanical
medicine, is a medical system based on the use of plants or plant extracts that may be eaten or
applied to the skin (Herbal Medicine. Dr. Weil, n.d, 1). A lot of times, those who are
uninformed will dismiss herbal medicine as irrelevant in a society that is so advanced in the
medical field. Even though much of the medical community ignores, perhaps even disdains,

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plant medicine as too old fashioned, plants are nonetheless the basis for some of the most
effective drugs (Herbal Medicine. 15). Most, if not all, medicines begin with an herbal base.
The human body is much stronger and more resilient than those making money off of
prescription drugs lead people to believe. Herbal medicine aims to return the body to a state of
natural balance, so that it can start to heal itself (Better Health Channel, 1). The body is good at
attacking foreign bacteria/viruses that it encounters which is why herbal medicine doesnt aim to
artificially alter our chemical responses, but to help the body heal itself. The primary focus of
the herbalist is to treat people as individuals irrespective of the disease or condition they have
and to stimulate their innate healing power through the use of such interventions as herbs, diet
and lifestyle (American Herbalists Guild, 1). When one sees a doctor, they describe their
symptoms and are written a prescription. This way of using medicine is very generic and
impersonal. Doctors make money off of selling their patients expensive prescription drugs, so the
incentive to effectively heal these individuals is practically nonexistent. It seems as though the
incentive is to sell drugs, not heal people. Herbalists have a heavy focus on evaluating the person
as a whole which includes lifestyle and diet. The process of producing this type of medicine is
much more simple because the medicine itself is much more simple. Herbal preparations are
done by subjecting the whole plant or plant fragments through processes including extraction,
fermentation, purification and distillation. Herbal medicine comes in many different forms
including tinctures, extracts, and essential oils (Journal Of Pharmacy Research, 1). Once one is
aware of what exactly herbal medicine is, they may want to educate themselves on the infinite
benefits as well as the few drawbacks .
With every good thing, even those which are extremely beneficial, there are a few
drawbacks. Even herbal medicine has its limitations. An herbalist would not be able to treat

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serious trauma, such as a broken leg, nor would he be able to heal appendicitis or a heart attack
as effectively as a conventional doctor using modern diagnostic tests, surgery, and drugs
(Journal Of Pharmacy Research, 1). Serious injuries that require immediate medical attention
may not be best treated herbally. Modern medicine is certainly beneficial because of all the
research that has gone into it. It would be extremely difficult/dangerous to perform a surgery, or
any kind of serious treatment, outside of a less sterile environment than what could be provided
by a hospital. There is a lot of risk associated with self-treatment using herbal medicine. Just like
with prescription drugs, the improper amount could lead to overdose. Just because it is an herb
does not mean it is safe to ingest. (Journal of Pharmacy Research, 1). It is very important that
one identifies and properly dissects exactly what the plant is, as well as what its properties are.
People make the mistake in thinking that just because the medicine is an herb, its not powerful
and potentially dangerous like any kind of drug. It is very important that one educates
her/himself on the drawbacks that could potentially occur when taking herbal medicine.
The benefits of using herbal medicine are limitless. Herbal drugs are more effective for
long-standing health complaints that dont respond well to traditional medicine (Journal Of
Pharmacy Research, 1). Herbal medicine is probably most well-known for treating health
conditions that are less temporary. Like eating the right foods, herbal medicine keeps your
overall health consistently sound. Herbs are available without a prescription. Simple herbs, such
as peppermint and chamomile, can be cultivated at home (Journal Of Pharmacy Research, 1).
Quite possibly the most compelling part of herbal medicine is the fact that you can grow it at
home. Of course one must become thoroughly familiar with the herb he/she plans on treating
themselves with, but it is just as easy to grow your own medicine as it is to grow your own food.
Herbal markets are globally increasing due to safe drug delivery with fewer side effect

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compared to synthetic drugs (Journal Of Pharmacy Research, 1). The most common criticism of
prescription drugs is correlated with the long list of side effects that prescription drugs
companies legally have to inform you of. The severity of the side effects is shocking in the least.
The side effects are the bodys negative responses to all the artificial components of the drugs.
Herbal medicine has a much shorter list of potential side effects because of it being natural.
Natural medicine is much easier for the body to process and digest. The comparison between
prescription drugs and herbal medicine really clears up any confusion on which is the more
beneficial choice for healing.
One doesnt really know how beneficial herbal medicine can be until they are comparing
them to prescription drugs. Ask someone what they initially think about herbal medicine and
you will most likely receive a response stating how ineffective, dangerous, unproven and
unscientific it is (Complementary Healing Herbal Medicine versus Pharmaceutical Drugs
Comments, 1). The public in general is simply not educated about herbal medicine. This isnt
necessarily their fault either. Society today has trained everyone to believe that it has some of the
best health options available. If everyone believes that healthcare is so beneficial, then one would
understand why they might feel negatively about alternatives. The United States government
has reported 0 deaths due to consumption of herbal medicine. On the other hand, pharmaceutical
drugs such as doctor prescribed medicines and over the counter drugs kill more than one million
Americans every year (Complementary Healing Herbal Medicine versus Pharmaceutical Drugs
Comments, 1). Herbal medicine can be as effective as prescription drugs but the biggest
advantage is that herbal medicine is much safer! The list of potential side effects printed on the
side of any prescription pill bottle is unsettling in the least. Salicylic Acid is found in the plant
meadowsweet and is used to make Aspirin...Aspirin causes the lining of the stomach to bleed

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(Better Health Channel, 1). Aspirin is just one example of the many prescription drugs that have
serious side effects. One wouldnt think while they were popping a couple aspirin in their mouth
during a headache, that it could potentially cause the lining of their stomach to bleed. An all
natural alternative to aspirin is much safer and would be just as effective. Besides the obvious
dangers of taking prescription drugs such as overdose/underdose, allergic reactions and
interactions, pharmaceutical drugs may be harmful because they have harmful inorganic
compounds that an ordinary person cannot necessarily digest and assimilate (Complementary
Healing Herbal Medicine versus Pharmaceutical Drugs Comments, 1). The bottom line is that
the body was not made to be able to process all the synthetic compounds that are key ingredients
to prescription drugs, hence the outrageous side effects that one could potentially experience.
Of course, drug companies always say their unique molecules are better, stronger and safer than
herbs (Mother Earth News, 1). The human body is not a weak defenseless corpse. It
immediately attacks foreign bodies such as unknown viruses and diseases. One might need help
fighting off a particularly harmful sickness but that is where herbal medicine can play a part.
Prescription drugs can often times appear that they are effectively healing when they are actually
just masking the symptoms. Herbal medicine simply attempts to return the body to a natural state
of balance. Sure prescription drugs might be stronger in some cases but the strength is the
medicine can correlate with the list of side effects. Though taking herbal meds as opposed to
prescription drugs could potentially cause one to take longer to fully recover, it will be a much
safer and healthier route to take. Many people arent aware of all the negative influences
prescription drugs have on society as a whole. Its time one learned because they are utterly
overwhelming.

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Many americans believe that the best health care system in the world exists in their
country. Society has lead everyone to believe that this statement is true. However, it is much
more harmful than many may think. But did you know that a recent report in the journal of the
American Medical Association said that adverse drug reactions are believed to be the leading
cause of death in the United States? (Mother Earth News, 1). Prescription drugs have been
advertised to be beneficial and the drawbacks haven't been made readily available to society so
that they may see and be aware of them. The reason prescription drugs are effective is because of
how potent and chemically altered they are. With these powerful remedies comes even more
influential flaws.
The dependence of people on prescription drugs isnt just limited to adults. This fact may
be one of the scariest issues involved with pharmaceuticals. It's exceedingly hard to fathom that
more than 25 percent of American youths are now taking prescription medication on a regular
basis. (Mercola, 1). The minds of youth are growing and changing constantly. Why is there a
need to warp their brains with the amount of chemical that are entering their developing bodies?
The answer is that there isnt. Twenty five percent of american youths is a large and utterly
alarming percentage. One out of four school children take prescription drugs. Children cant be
expected to understand the dangers of over or under taking drugs and shouldnt be expected to.
Another big negative impact that the mass production and distribution of prescription
drugs has on society is the fact that the amount of money drug companies are making is enough
to get them out of almost any sticky legal situation. They've been hit with $14.8 billion in
wrongdoing settlements in the last five years but that's still cheaper than going about things the
legal way. (Mercola 1). The drug companies are one of the top defrauders in todays society.
Because of the immense profit drug companies make, they can pay off lawsuits or any other

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wrongdoings easily. Drug companies are extremely corrupt and the worst part is that they can get
away with it. People see prescription drug advertisements regularly that usually display healthy
attractive people in outdoor environments. The way these drugs are advertised would lead one to
believe that all their health problems can be solved in a little magic capsule. Advertising for
these products is extremely misleading and misportrayed.
One may wonder why society isnt more dependent on herbal medicine even though it
has been around for ages. A major factor impeding the development of the medicinal plant
based industries in developing countries has been the lack of information on the social and
economic benefits that could be derived from the industrial utilization of medicinal plants.
(International Journal Of Pharmacy & Life Sciences 1). The answer is simply that there hasnt
been enough research into the idea that herbal medicine could be a legitimate alternative to our
health care system now. Because prescription drug companies do so well hiding all their
detrimental information, few are educated in all the ways that the drugs are harmful. Herbal
markets are globally increase due to safe drug delivery with fewer side effects compared to
synthetic drugs. (Journal Of Pharmacy Research 1). As people become more and more
educated they will realize how moving away from mainstream prescriptions into alternative
medicines is the best thing, not only for health in general, but for society as a whole. By being
able to come up with remedies instead of running to the doctor for every ailment we are taking
our own health in our hands and we're more in tune with ourselves. (Mentor Interview).
In conclusion, herbal medicine is a field that definitely merits more of a chance for the
spotlight since prescription drugs have worn out their welcome. Through learning about the
dangerous side-effects, negative impacts on society and detrimental effects on the body, one
comes to understand how the pharmaceutical drug companies are inadequate to the core. Herbal

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medicine, on the other hand, has been a justifiable alternative since the beginning of medicine
itself. Herbal medicine is not only beneficial for the individual but also for society in many
different ways. Its time society switches to a more beneficial health option and herbal medicine
is ready to assume the position.

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