What Are Natural Remedies - Are They Safe?
Any herb or natural substance that is used for its medicinal properties in its original form as provided by nature falls under the category of natural remedies provided it is prepared/processed/formulated by using only natural substances. Any treatment procedure that meets the above definition, such as acupressure and acupuncture, also falls under natural remedies.
Most of the Western healthcare systems are based on synthetically produced medicines, even though a fair number of them are derived from herbs with a long history of curative properties. Despite this, herbal remedies of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine are termed as alternative medicine.
Going by the same definition, homeopathy too falls under the category of natural and alternative remedies. Homeopathy, although less than 200 hundred years old is similar to ancient Eastern therapies with regards to the choice of basic ingredients for the remedies. It also uses herbs, plants, minerals and metals to prepare remedies using a dilution and succession process that is devoid of any synthetic products.
Two aspects of natural remedies, including herbal supplements need to be mentioned here - safety and theory. Safety of any remedy depends upon the natural product used and the ability of the person prescribing or preparing it. This is extremely important because the use of herbs for medicinal purposes is not regulated by the FDA.
Some herbs that have potent curative properties can be extremely poisonous in their undiluted form. For example, there is a saying in homeopathy that “when in doubt: try Nux Vomica” and it is often prescribed as a first line of treatment for numerous ailments. However, Nux Vomica is derived from an Asiatic plant that contains potent toxins like strychnine and brucine and can be extremely poisonous in its original state. It is the typical process of dilution employed by homeopathy that gives it the potency of treating disease. Self treating in natural remedies is not advisable. Alternatively, you can look for a reputed manufacturer or specialist.
The theory of natural therapies differs in the contention of the allopathic theory that a single compound in a drug gives better results as the dosage can be quantified easily. According to the theory of natural remedies, the various biologically active compounds in herbs interact with each other to increase the therapeutic effect and dilute toxicity. It also denies that the synergy of compounds can be duplicated with synthetic chemicals. While pharmaceutical researchers accept this synergism they insist on clinical trials to check the efficacy of a particular herbal formulation provided it is consistent.
Natural remedies are very effective and supported by some rational and logically prepared systems of treatment. It is another matter that due to commercial reasons and vested interests that such clinical trial is not easy to conduct to prove their efficacy. It is a historical irony that natural therapies, still accredited as efficacious treatment in many cultures are treated as alternative therapies by developed nations.
