Why Herbal Medicine?

 

It's the year 2022 and standard health care comprises of taking your vitamins, getting vaccinated and if you get ill, going to the doctor for pharmaceuticals.

Following on from my previous blogpost, where I questioned the authorities' attitude to the coronavirus, I also take issue with modern "health care" of which the medical establishment is so proud. Health to me is a condition where the body is well nourished (as opposed to well fed), working harmoniously within itself and in some sort of equilibrium with the environment. Health to most people seems to be the ability to function from day to day with or without medication to prop one up, as well as being well fed (which to many is filling the stomach regardless of nutritional value of the food).

So living without any regard for the body's nutritional requirements, and ignoring warnings that all might not be well, ie constipation, headaches, frequent infections, stress etc., eventually may result in chronic disease or acute disease. Here we may be looking at chronic pharmaceutical medication, or hospitalisation. 

The problem with this scenario is that although a life might have been saved, nothing else has changed. The cause of the disease has not been removed. Now a bandage has been wrapped around the cause. Patients are assured that they are receiving the best medical care. Medication may cause side effects which require more medication and patients often feel unwell on all the medicine, as ultimately they are still the same sick person because nothing has changed. 

Which brings us to the question, "Why herbal medicine?" My answer would be: because herbal medicine can result in the change. Healing comes about via nourishing and nurturing, not suppression and blocking of symptoms. Herbs have nutritional value in their phytonutrient content, and their complex chemical make up can stimulate sluggish organs, or relax tense systems. Phytotherapy is the art and science of using herbs to bring about healing, or an improved state which may result in fewer pharmaceuticals being required. 

An enormous amount of research is being carried out worldwide on herbs, resulting in the scientific validation of herbal medicine. Phytotherapy is a registered profession in South Africa and phytotherapy offers a chance at much improved wellness for many who are trapped in the chronic disease and medication situation. Improved wellbeing leads to better mental health and improved happiness levels. Unfortunately most people are not offered this alternative. They remain unaware that there are other forms of help.