Alternative Healing

In general, people are encouraged to make use of herbs as a supplement to help them stay well, rather than just when they contract an illness. Waiting until one has caught an illness is how most modern pharmaceuticals are prescribed, as well as treating only the symptoms (i.e., the headache or nausea caused by an underlying problem) rather than the cause of the ailment. Many herbs can be safely taken in combination with prescribed medications. An herb generally works on the body in one of three ways: it can cleanse the body of impurities or an illness, it can build up the immune system, or it can strengthen the foundation of an organ so it will heal itself.

Particular herbs can accomplish one or more of these functions, and specific herbs are used for specific ailments while there is often more than one herb that can aid in the treating of an ailment.

Herbs can be ordered through herbal catalogues, bought in health food stores, or grown in your garden. Today, many herbs have become available in mainstream grocery store pharmacies in pill form.

Herbs can be taken to supplement health and many can be taken along with pharmaceutical drugs without negative side effects. Herbs are safe to use as long as a certified herbalist is consulted or if a person takes it upon them self to research the herb comprehensively and come to an educated decision about dosage and what form of the herb is most efficient (i.e., pill, tincture, or infusion). Herbs have been used medicinally for thousands of years, so today’s medical doctors should in fact be calling their form of healing, "alternative medicine". The statistics of side effects from pharmaceutical drugs is superbly more abundant when compared to side effects seen from the use of herbs.