Importance of Herbal Medicine
My Experience
At very young age, I was exposed to herbal medicine instead of the typical pharmaceutical drugs that everyone is aware of. Whenever my mother was sick, she would go to an herbal medicine shop and purchase herbs that I was completely unfamiliar with. As I grew older I was curious and tried herbal medicine. It was extremely bitter, and I hated it, but after maturing into the idea and taste I soon realized the benefits
Herbal medicine made up of natural plants and herbs, in comparison to pharmaceutical drugs with chemicals.
Since in the future I want to pursue a career in medicine, I want to research more about this topic and try to find some truth behind herbal medicine. I would like to reach out to people who are interested in alternatives for their medical needs and inform others. Herbal medicine is a form of treatment that has been long pushed aside hidden in the shadows of these brand new technological advances of recent years; however, there are definitely unknown mysteries within herbal medicine that we would never be able to discover if we were to discard this traditional idea entirely.
Role in Society
Herbal medicine becoming obsolete in today’s age, but there is evidence surfacing that could drive the potential comeback to these small, but powerful plants. Recently an article in The New York Times that addresses herbal medicine interested me quite a bit by Ferris Jabr. He brings up the question, “Could Ancient Remedies Hold the Answer to the Looming Antibiotics Crisis”. This article brings up good points because technology is always advancing and growing. People and researchers are moving away from traditional remedies and techniques. This article by Jabr states that, “One researcher thinks the drugs of the future might come from the past: botanical treatments long overlooked by Western medicine” (Jabr). This proves that past methods are still relevant in today’s age. My main goal is to try and spread awareness of herbal medicine and hopefully ignite more studies for the future of medicine. People rely on these alternative medical treatments, such as herbal medicine and similar supplements.
Many people in the world use alternative supplements in addition to other medical treatments, and herbal medicine is no different. Alternative medicine is huge in the west, and an article by Nicholas Bakalar, “The Alternative Medical Bill: $30.2 Billion” shows statistics and provides information on how much money Americans use on supplementary health supplements. Many Americans use natural product supplements for their additional medical needs, as Bakalar states, “they’re willing to pay out of pocket for alternative treatment, they really must value and believe in it.” This proves that there is a demand and potential for herbal medicine to grow and advance in the medical field.
Significance
There are pros and cons to herbal medicine, but pharmaceutical drugs have those skepticisms as well. This is why everyone should be informed of herbal medicine and its existence because it can be an option for some people. Others might not be convinced, but looking for alternatives helps with treating the diverse group of people in this world with the many diseases and illnesses out there. I want to be able to take all these factors into account and provide sufficient information to inform others and spark a change in the medical industry to give herbal medicine another look at before they bury it in medical history.
Work Cited
Bakalar, Nicholas. “The Alternative Medical Bill: $30.2 Billion.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 June 2016. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.
By the Same Token, This Means Ginkgo May Also Increase the Effect of Some Blood-thinning Medications, including Aspirin. People Taking Blood-thinning Medications Should Ask Their Doctor before Using Ginkgo. People with a History of Seizures and People Wit. “Herbal Medicine.”University of Maryland Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Sept. 2016.
Jabr, Ferris. “Could Ancient Remedies Hold the Answer to the Looming Antibiotics Crisis?” The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Sept. 2016. Web. 20 Sept. 2016.
