The Natural Beat

Herbs have a long history that backs their potential effectiveness. Long before modern medical science came to the scene, herbs and nature’s remedies were the mainstays of treating disease. Today there are hundreds of online sites that offer herbal cures for mental and physiological disorders. Some of them are genuine and rendering yeoman service to the concept of traditional therapies and treatment modalities while bringing the benefits of traditional medicine to people across the world. However, there are others who simply want to latch on to the latest fad to make a quick buck.

Commercial exploitation has probably caused the biggest harm to the authenticity of herbal medicines and treatments. While pharmaceutical products are strictly controlled by the FDA, natural remedies are not covered under such prohibitions and rules. The absence of such an authority has led to the exploitation of gullible consumers, who are sometimes sold colored water as herbal extracts.

If you are sold colored water, the only thing you loose is your money as long as the water itself is not contaminated. But unfortunately the spurious manufacturers and marketers do not stop at that and therefore unsuspecting consumers may face more serious consequences.

The two aspects of herbal remedies that all consumers must be aware of are therapeutic dosage and toxicity. Herbal medicines must undergo the processes mentioned in the materia medica or encyclopedias of respective therapies. Ayurveda for example depends mostly on dried herbs or extracts derived after boiling or dilution. Homeopathic remedies, on the other hand, are prepared using a tedious diluting process. All herbal remedies must undergo these specific processes to the last instruction to arrive at the correct therapeutic dosage. The processes are also important for removing the toxicity of certain herbs.

Before buying any herbal medicine it is imperative that you check out the following.

1. The reputation and authenticity of the manufacturer is of prime importance. Buy only from those who have a proven track record of professional integrity. Avoid those that make tall claims like instant cures.
2. Check the label and gather full knowledge of potential effects of the ingredients.

Unscrupulous fly by night operator’s can con you of your money. At the same time if the preparation process is not correct, highly toxic herbal ingredients used in the preparation may cause harm. Proper preparation methods ensure that the toxicity of the original ingredients is removed according to principles of the therapy to ensure a safe and effective remedy.

For example, Arnica Montana is an extremely effective remedy as a topical application and should not be ingested. However, if it is prepared according to homeopathic procedures, it can safely be taken internally also. In fact, as a homeopathic remedy, arnica is a highly recommended treatment for bruises and injuries. If taken immediately after an accident it can even prevent occurrence of bruises in nine out of ten cases. Similarly, belladonna is a poisonous plant whose roots and leaves yield atropine, a poisonous crystalline alkaloid. After undergoing the homeopathic dilution procedure, it can be used for its positive actions on the vascular system, skin and glands.

Despite efforts by vested interests to highlight toxicity and denigrate the efficacy of herbs, there has been a resurgence of herbal remedies and they have become popular again. The next step, however, is education for the masses to ensure that they can ensure the authenticity of what is being bought.

References:
http://ezinearticles.com/?cat=Health-and-Fitness:Alternative