Herbal Medicines

The medicines used today are derivatives of medicinal plants, but because of man's greed and insistence upon playing the chemical game, these products now are synthetic and toxic to our bodies. Their purposes is to alleviate symptoms, not to correct or cure any conditions. Herbal medicines, on the other hand, dispose of the symptoms by curing the condition. They restore normality and thus allow the body to regain homeostasis once again.

A prime example of the effectiveness of herbs can be seen in the animal kingdom. An injured or sick animal will seek out and eat or otherwise use the herbs that will restore its health.

In the early 19th century, when methods of chemical analysis first became available, scientists began extracting and modifying the active ingredients from plants. In the U.S. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds, beginning the transition from raw herbs to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Over time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favor of pharmaceuticals.

Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their primary health care. In the last 20 years in the United States, increasing public dissatisfaction with the cost of prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in the use of herbal medicines. In Germany, roughly 600 - 700 plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by approximately 70% of German physicians.