Nature is a treasure trove and humans have discovered the beneficial properties of different plants centuries ago. Whether the Ancient Egyptians steeping blue lotus flower petals in wine for an intoxicating drink or dressed wounds with chamomile, the Europeans using rosemary as an antiseptic or lavender for a good night’s sleep, the Chinese using the gingko plant to make a tonic, medicinal herbs have been known and used throughout history by all cultures.
Today the use of medicinal plants continues despite medicinal science’s advance. And that’s a good thing. People have different reasons for using the healing power of herbs instead or along with their treatments. It’s an alternative type of treatment or treatment aid that many people resort to.
The problem is that a lot of people try self-medication or self-treatment with herbs instead of asking advice from their medical practitioner first and that can lead to all sorts of potential complications.
The problem isn’t that you’re seeking an alternative therapy. It becomes a problem when you do so without professional advice or guidance or even without proper research.
I remember in my teen years I had a problem with hives. I always used to get hives. From pretty much anything. Whether it was polen, dust, eating strawberries or butter I would get that annoying rash and I couldn’t stop scratching and leaving marks. And the drugs I kept being prescribed didn’t help either. After a few months of itchy torture I asked my doctor if we could try a different approach, i.e. a natural alternative therapy since the drugs weren’t working and what was worse – I was getting unwanted side effects.
He said yes, let’s try that. So he prescribed me a very simple herbal treatment. It involved a herbal infusion from three different plants to be drunk three times a day, a natural herb extract cream for the itchiness and a diet in high fiber to cleanse and purge the digestive system. After two weeks of that no more hives. Not ever since.
So alternative herbal therapies DO work and can work wonders. The idea is to never try to self-medicate or do so without advice or research. Some plants have quite the nasty side effects after prolonged use, some cause allergies (even if you’re not a known allergic), some are even poisonous.
This becomes more of a problem if you’re already taking medication for your condition or illness. The plants you might consider using could clash with the effects of the prescribed drugs and then what?
The best thing to do is to simply ASK your medical practitioner.
This goes for any type of herbal extract you consider taking – be it tinctures, infusions, essential oils, etc. Either internally or externally. Not to mention the warning applies even more for the use of essential oils – these are very concentrated herbal extracts which can cause a series of unwanted side effects, even when used externally (for example cinnamon essential oil is know to irritate skin or even cause allergies). And the same caution as with drugs applies with herbal remedies: keep them secure away from children’s reach or unsuspecting adults.
Some may raise an eyebrow at what I’m about to say: even if you’re a gardening enthusiast ALWAYS research the plant you want to add to your garden.
Why? Because some of the most beautiful decorative plants are known to be poisonous. Don’t take my word for it, do a search on the subject and see for yourselves.
I think warnings can’t be re-iterated enough. I’ve seen many people have complications from either using the wrong herb, not seeking professional medical advice and trying to self medicate with herbs. I even got into trouble myself once when in love with the scent of orange I threw some orange peel in my bathwater and just dunked in there thinking of how nice I’ll smell when I come out. I got a horrible skin rash from the essential oil contained in the orange peel and had to spend two days wrapped in a bed sheet unable to move too much because if I touched anything I would have been in pain. I later read that citrus essential oils (lemon, lime, orange etc.) can cause skin rashes and allergic reactions. That experience taught me to always do my research!
Herbs are a gift of Nature and have helped mankind along history but that doesn’t mean we can use any plant at any given time without proper research and professional advice.
With that being said, there is no reason on this Earth why you shouldn’t get in touch with Nature. Get into gardening, do nature walks, hike, go beach combing, educate yourself about the local flora, try different yummy teas or herbal syrups, even get into making your own lip balms and creams – there’s tons of information and guides out there and these are fun activities which you can do together with your family and friends.
Take care, stay safe and enjoy Nature’s bounty responsibly!
