HERBALISM TODAY…AN ARTICLE BY MORAKINYO A.O OF LEADINGCARE NATUROPATHIC CLINIC With the tremendous increase in the consumption and usage of herbal medicinal products with not less than 80% of people worldwide relying on them for some parts of primary health care, there has been various controversies on the idea of including herbal remedies in public health. Different question on the efficacy and effectiveness of botanical supplements are yet to be answered. concerns surrounding phytonutrient safety are also increasingly recognized. An herb being a plant or plant parts used for it scent, flavour and other therapeutic properties has long been used as the basis of traditional medicine, with usage dating as far back as the first century and far before. Medical use of phytonutrients has it root in the western culture (Greek),Indian(ayurveda),China(TCM), Africa,and different countries of the world. For example,the leaves of the coca plant have been chewed as a psychoactive by people in northern perevian societies for over 8000 years.Herbs are also used in many religions for spiritual purposes. However, the discovery of modern medicine and increase in production of pharmaceuticals have made people doubt the effectiveness of phytomedicines. Different allegations against phytotherapy being unsafe for consumption have been on the high side.Many claimed that herbal medicine toxicity and negative side effects are not something that should be overlooked. Due to the allegations,in some countries many herbal medicines with promising potential and wide usage remained untested and uncertified. In some cases traditional health practitioners are not licensed and recognized.
With various researches and scientific experiments,it has been unveiled that most allegations against botanical supplements or nutraceuticals happened to be untrue. Also, the issue of its toxicity and negative side effects were justified.The results have established the fact that herbal products are more superior to modern drugs by proving that herbs side effect and toxicity is nothing compared to orthodox pharmaceuticals.
It is clear that modern pharmaceuticals had their origins in crude herbal medicine and to this day, some drug are still extracted as fractionate or isolate compounds from raw herbs and then purified to meet pharmaceutical standard.The big question yet to be answered is that which is better;raw and natural consumption of botanical supplements,or chemically processed with chemical preservatives and artificially manufactured plant in form of pharmaceuticals?.
In addition,phytonutrient contains fewer or no artificial chemical with likelihood of causing irritation and allergies been less. Synthetic drugs on the other hand, because of the chemical compound found in them has made people more likely to respond adversely to them.
Also, the case of overdose and indefinite prescription has no stand,because there are qualified and registered practioners that prescribe medications just like modern conventional medicine practioners.
Furthermore, self medication and drug abuse are nature's challenges not that of herbal medicine alone,so it should not be used as evidence against the efficacy of phytotherapy.
The improvement in the quality and safety of herbal medicine with the improvement of science and technology coupled with low cost of production and preference of consumers for natural therapies is giving herbal medicine a concrete stand and bright future.
In conclusion,the general public should accept the fact that anything natural is more superior to synthetic or artificial supplements.The fight against herbal medicine should be stopped and all allegations should be aborted because sooner or later,the long existed and ancient supplement,with advancement in technology,will be generally accepted.Herbs are not poison when consumed with proper monitoring and definite prescription. Herbs improve healthy living,it prevent and also cure all form of ailment.
Morakinyo A.O LANIM
