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Herbal Alternatives Herbal alternatives are increasing in popularity. More and more we see that herbal remedies gain results where conventional medicine has failed. Some of these herbal alternatives are many hundreds of years old (as in Chinese medicine etc.) and could not have survived if they had not been proved to be successful. However there is always going to be "the latest thing in" whatever medical ailment you suffer from! Great care must be taken when considering herbal treatments. You should always seek medical advice and read as much as you can before starting. Having a greater knowledge of your illness can prove extremely beneficial, even if you don't proceed with the herbal remedy. Understanding your illness and it's symptons can help you decide which herbal remedy will be most suitable for you. Some treatments are very safe to use at any time. Other herbal treatments are so powerful that they must NOT be taken if you are taking prescription drugs Such a herbal alternative is St. John's Wort. It is really, surprisingly, effective in the treatment of depression and must not be used if you are taking conventional anti-depresssants without the knowledge of the doctor that prescribed them (who would most probbably advise against the use of such herbal treatments). Other herbal alternatives should be avoided if you are pregnant. Most people are not aware that certain essential oils should be avoided when you are pregnant. One such oil is peppermint oil which has been known to cause early labor. If you are pregnant, or considering pregnancy, you should investigate this further and study any alternatives closely before using them. Many people are surprised that modern prescription drugs are often derivatives of herbal alternatives, or can trace their roots back to a herbal remedy. Aspirin, a common painkiller and anti-inflamatory drug, was first synthesized from the bark of the Willow. The use of Willow bark to reduce fever and inflammation is known to be common as far back as the time of Hippocrates (c. 400BC when people were known to be advised to chew on the bark of the willow). The heart drug Digoxin is derived from the leaves of the Digitalis such as the Foxglove. The use of extracts of digitalis are first recorded in 1785 and is still used today. In it's natural form the plant is really a poison with even the smallest amounts causing death. Many universities and bio-chemists continue to experiment with plants and their derivatives in an effort to find cures for common illnesses. It is therefore not too surprising that many people look to herbal alternatives when looking for treatments to modern illnesses. Old wives tales are often based in fact. Remember your grandparents taking malt extract, yeast extract or cod liver oil? All of these are becoming extremely popular. Omega 3 is the buzz word at the moment, the wonder oil that is often refered to as "brain food". There are even Omega 3 rich diets being promoted and many products now contain the oil in the efforts to reduce cholesterol. So, next time you are in the high street, don't walk past your health food shop, pop in and take a look around. You may be surprised, especially if you buy something and find it to be effective! Health Links 02 External Free Health Articles Herbal Alternative Links: The A to Z of Health
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