We have so many heath care methods in this modern age that it is difficult to decide which is the best one for us. In this Factoid, we discuss Herbalism and its importance in our life. You see in the modern health sciences, particularly the allopathic ways of health treatment, the use of mechanical methods using equipment, instruments and the use of extracting the chemicals from the plants, trees. Modern laboratory processes are also used for manufacturing these chemicals. Our intake of these chemicals as medicines goes directly into our body. Thus, the various organs of our body absorb it. It is simply the human mechanism, whether physical or mental, that participates in the absorption of medicines. Now, the major drawback as a result of this is that we may make our body so idle that it may not process naturally; in other words, the chemicals used as an extract from any source create an addiction within the body; slowly the chemicals become a need for the body.
We seem to thrive on the chemicals as our earth does. Thus, our physical dependency and the need for chemicals has made us diseased in a way. It causes unwanted changes in our physiology and psychology. We seem in great need for management of the mind, or our mental health. We notice that we are usually in need of such chemicals as these sedatives, antidepressants, painkillers, multivitamins and minerals that have been processed artificially or chemically. We have to think about how long we can depend up on these. It calls for an alternative; and that is Herbalism.
The need of this alternative health science offering Herbalism and others means of using herbs, in any form, constitute a logical need that we seriously need to consider.
We have herbs as the natural storehouse of all of the chemicals, which nowadays work as drugs/medicines. Now, the major factor is that the herbs allow absorption of the chemical through a process in which the relevant organs/parts participate, work and function. The activation and the involvement of all parts of the body from the cellular to the total body level is one of the major aims–which is to heal the body from not only the present disease, but also a cure for the causes of other diseases.
Now, an indispensable factor is involving the body at its most basic level. The smallest part in our body is the individual cell. Herbalism heals by reaching to the cellular level so that the body participates in the healing process. Conversely, the manufactured chemical or drug does not actively involve the body, but instead acts upon the otherwise passive body, with the chemicals producing temporary side effects in both body and mind.
The person receiving allopathic treatment also receives guidance to do some exercises and take or avoid some meals/foods, which complements the application of the Herbalism in the allopathic treatment. Even in the major diseases, the prescription of foods and dietary recommendations includes the presence of the herbals and the natural qualities in the various foods. We also believe that the exercises, support the allopathic care and cure. However, these also promote and stimulate the organs and the various parts of the body so that body may resume their natural activity.
For example, the diabetes patient needs to walk for miles so that his stomach, liver and other organs may work to extract the herbal contents or the nutrients from the food. The herbals, which we recommend in accordance with Medicinal Herbalism for treatment along with advice on foods to ingest and which to avoid, on the other hand, is simply the call for the body to work naturally. This effort to enhance the working and the functioning of the body and the mind forms the principles of Herbalism. The herbs have multifaceted effects that the body needs to work better, and it has been observed that it works better when we use specific herbs for specific purposed. Our body needs to be in working order to utilize its restoring energies and powers that nature provides.
The herb is ingest, and it works on the entire body; thus it invites the body and the mind, as the participation of the nerves acts by the same method, when the body uses its systems for extracting the content of the herbs. One examples that demonstrate is salad, which has no alternative in any therapy. The eating of salad makes use of both its herbal contents and the nutritive qualities it has. The fiber to the enhance activity of the digestive system is one of the marvels of the Herbalism.
Some have an erroneous impression that only a few plants or herbs constitute the basics of the Herbalism, but in fact anything natural being processing in the body, causing the body to react naturally and promoting the natural activity of the body, works as an herb. We have friendly, living micro-organisms and enzymes, which may not tolerate the strong effects of the chemicals. You see, when we use these chemicals, just as we use them in the case of fertilizers, anticipating a better harvest, we instead may get adverse affects as a result. Organic farming represents Herbalism; without it, we cannot restore global health. We cannot separate the human body from the functioning of the five basic elements: namely, solid (foods), water, fire, air and space. Our body uses these five basic elements as natural herbals. It is not a false claim that mineral water, fresh air, sunlight full of ozone in the morning and other forms of these five elements are essentials for a sound mind in a sound body.
Herbalism makes all parts of the body active, whereas the other modern (chemical) therapies, which are not natural, may suppress one to promote another. Painkillers are an example of this. We use these and they suppress the effect of the sensations in the nerves, as if making them dead. So, it can make the functioning of the other parts, from which the body and mind coordinate though the nerves and muscles–the neuromuscular system–ineffective for a short span of time. Herbalism, on the hand, offers antibacterial, antispasmodic and anti-allergic effects, healing the causes of the pain. In Herbalism, the body and mind participate in directing the functioning of the body.
As another example, while fasting, we use juices–vegetable and other foods, which our body needs–thus it stimulates all the mechanisms of the body, rather than making it numb or passive, so that we do not feel the presence of the pain or the disease, making us assume that we have cured it. The body has natural mechanisms, which cannot interact with anything that it is not natural, as the act of healing should not include making body function dependent on excessive use of chemicals, drugs and other artificial stimulants. In Herbalism these functions are present in the natural way.
Natural chemicals are analogical to the biological and physiological functions present in our living bodies. The chemicals naturally present in the herbs have the benefit of being naturally processed by the body, extracted and utilized. It makes the body work in harmony with nature. As our level of study has advanced, we now understand the role of the glands, moods and other strong natural influences, which nature offers. Medical Herbalism uses these as catalysts, in which the therapy works in accordance with the natural way of recovery. For the simplest example, we know that the symptoms of sneezing, cough and cold, and headaches are at their worst for a maximum of a week; however, we rush to find relief with antibiotics, while avoiding herbs. We can use these together, because antibiotics and herbs do not have adverse interactions.
Most of us do not understand that nature provides us with all possible faculties even before the birth of a child, and develops our systems to work in conjunction with Medicinal Herbalism for our needs. The more we know about it, the more we can understand how indispensable it is. Lastly, as nature is indispensable, so is Medicinal Herbalism indispensible for our needs.
Please note that the words ‘allopathy’ or ‘allopathic’ refer to the modern methods of using chemicals, surgical and other methods that differ from natural care through herbs. Thanks!
