The Practice Of Herbal Medicine In The Modern Age

Thursday, May 22 2008 @ 07:44 AM Central Daylight Time

Despite the availability of modern treatment, many individuals are now using herbal medicine as an alternative treatment method for common illnesses and as a diet supplement to promote proper health.

It is a common fact that many synthetic drugs are the by-product of scientific studies concerning the curative properties of plants and animals. As a cost-effective way of treating health problems, the popularity of herbal medicines are on the worldwide scale, and can be taken hand-in-hand with modern methods and synthetic drugs to promote proper health and treatment.

The Chinese Art Medicine

The Chinese are very known practitioners of herbalism, a traditional medicine that utilizes plants and their extracts. They have compiled histories-worth of facts regarding the curative properties of different plants, as well as different ways in preparing them to maximize healing capabilities.

Most often that not, you would see a Chinese herbal shop within your area selling shelves and shelves of herbal medicines as a tonic, tincture, or in dried form. Using modern technology, some of their medicines are in capsules and tablets that utilize both synthetic chemical compounds and herbs to address specific health problems.

Visiting An Herbalist

Before you practice herbal medicine, you need to take note of the fact that self-medication is still a big risk in causing health problems even if it’s a natural form of medication. It is a significant fact that proper dosage is the key to proper health treatment, even in the case of herbal medicine.

You need to visit an herbalist to provide you with the proper herbs that will serve as your medication, as well as the proper dosage of taking them in. The session with an herbalist is similar to those with a doctor; they will ask you certain question regarding your family history, past medical problems, current medication, and so on. It is advisable to answer all their questions truthfully so they can prescribe the proper medicine, as well as instructions on how to use it.

Medication

There are three ways to use herbal medicines: raw, cooked, infusion. You can use whole plants grown without any use of growth chemicals and pesticides, and eat them raw. Plants have curative properties found in leaves, fruits, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, and even fruits. Herbalists are knowledgeable on what plant parts can treat certain diseases and can give you the proper dosage for them.

Another method is to cook or boil herbs to extract its curative properties. Boils water and add herbs and simmer until the water changes color. Experts would advice you either to eat the herbs or drink the juices. It's best to follow their instructions to the letter. Using dried leaves, you can make an infusion and drink your herbal medicine as tea, which is a common practice in Asian countries -- both in ancient and modern times.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor
http://primeherbal.com