The Safety and Effectiveness of Herbal Therapies

The Safety and Effectiveness of Herbal Therapies

Herbal therapies are commonly thought of as ineffective treatments used before the invention and modernization of more effective pharmaceutical drugs. Many feel that herbal therapies are based on nonsensical folklore and outdated theories. However, these generalizations are highly inaccurate.

More and more, herbs are being regarded as effective treatments for a wide variety of health problems. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, the use of herbal medicine has expanded globally and has gained popularity during the last decade, with over 80% of the world population incorporating some form of herbal therapy into daily life. Today, herbal therapies have not only continued to be used for primary health care of the poor in developing countries, but have also been used in countries where conventional medicine is predominant in the national health care system.¹

The History of Herbal Therapy

The history of the use of medicinal herbs is full of fascinating accounts and facts. Interestingly, the history of herbal medicine intertwines with that of modern medicine. In fact, many modern medications were developed from ancient healing traditions using certain plants.²
The use of herbals therapies extends far past written history. However, archeological research confirms that several modern-day herbs like marshmallow root, hyacinth, and yarrow were used as far back as the Stone Age.³ With the development of written language, early herbalists continued to learn about the widespread uses of medicinal plants throughout the centuries to come. Ancient Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations utilized popular herbs, such as garlic, juniper, basil and ginger, while Islamic, Tibetan, and Chinese cultures combined nutmeg, cloves, saffron, apricot seed, licorice root, and cinnamon, along with many other herbs, to create peace, harmony, and balance.⁴

The Philosophy of Herbal Therapy

One of the myths of herbal therapies is that there has been no firm scientific evidence for the use of many natural products to support a wide variety of health problems; yet, this claim is simply not true. In fact, the last 10 to 20 years have produced a tremendous amount of information concluding that herbs and other nutritional substances are effective medicinal agents.²
Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, herbal therapies strive to correct the underlying causes of poor health instead of just alleviating medical symptoms. By simply focusing on obliterating symptoms, both practitioners and patients tend to forget about the causes of disharmonies and "dis-eases" within the body; however, these must be addressed before symptoms can be fully eliminated.⁴ Through the use of herbal therapies, patients can once again take responsibility for their own health. Instead of just providing pharmaceutical "quick fixes," herbalists teach patients to be sufficiently in tune with their bodies. This ultimately allows patients to restore balance as well as physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Herbal therapies are known to be less toxic than synthetic drugs. Oftentimes, herbal therapies lack the adverse side effects that accompany many traditional drug treatments. However, as with starting any new medical treatment, it is important to consult a knowledgeable herbalist when contemplating the use of herbal therapy. As both past and present alike have shown, herbal therapies are highly effective and bioactive. Thus, they should be used with care to avoid any possible complications or drug interactions.