Herbs or Rx? The Great Debate
Since the dawn of civilization, humans have relied on herbal remedies as the cornerstone of natural medicine. However, the advent of modern chemistry has dramatically altered the health landscape, with synthetic drugs rapidly gaining prominence; while widely perceived as the only effective answer to illness.
Despite documented cases of harm and even death linked to prescription medications, herbal remedies continue to be dismissed by many physicians. According to analysts, this dismissive attitude may stem from a medical education system that largely overlooks the study of natural medicine.
While it's true that research on herbal medicines lags behind pharmaceutical drugs, the issue is more complex than a simple lack of evidence. Several factors contribute to this disparity:
Regulatory Hurdles: The regulatory pathways for herbal supplements often differ from those for pharmaceuticals, making it more challenging and expensive to conduct large-scale clinical trials. A key factor contributing to this imbalance is the difficulty in patenting herbal compounds due to the natural origin of ingredients. This lack of patent protection deters pharmaceutical companies from investing heavily in research and development.
Complex Compounds: Unlike synthetic drugs, which typically contain a single, isolated active ingredient, herbs are composed of a complex matrix of compounds, often including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, and other substances. This intricate composition makes it challenging to pinpoint the specific components responsible for a herb's therapeutic effects. These compounds can also interact synergistically, meaning that the whole plant may be more potent than the sum of its isolated parts, further complicating scientific investigation.
Still, research into herbal remedies is blossoming, with new studies continually emerging. Experts suggest that the long history of using plants for healing shouldn't be dismissed. While traditional medicine stubbornly remains the cornerstone of healthcare, there's growing recognition that complementary and alternative approaches may provide additional benefits.
Medicinal Harm
Pharmaceutical drugs have a less-than-impressive safety record. About 50 to 90 percent of medicines are known to contain allergy-inducing ingredients such as peanut oil, lactose, dyes, gluten, and certain sugars. Other ingredients reveal a disturbing array of medieval ingredients, ranging from the exotic - including Gila monster saliva and snake venom - to the downright bizarre, such as ground cow lungs, horse urine and sloth fungi.
Beyond these unusual components, the foundation of many drugs lies in potent, synthetic chemicals whose long-term effects remain largely unknown. While these medications undoubtedly offer some benefits, the potential risks associated with their consumption are a growing concern.
One might assume that if a medication is widely available, heavily advertised, and endorsed by doctors, it must be safe and effective. But that’s not the case. A closer look at the system by which these drugs are approved, marketed, and prescribed raises serious questions.
A well-known “revolving door” exists between leaders of the United States Food and Drug Administration and the very drug companies it monitors. The FDA reports that 65% of its funding for the evaluation of drugs comes from industry user fees and over the years these have expanded to generic drugs, biosimilars, and medical devices. (BMJ Investigation). The result is that a jaw-dropping 94 percent of “approved” drugs never went through rigorous tests proving they were safe or effective.
It also means that those medications you rely on may harbor potent side effects carefully concealed from you. When these unwanted consequences emerge, they’re often dismissed as new ailments requiring additional drugs, creating a cycle of dependence.
The FDA acknowledges that even drugs that are approved after significant research, regulation, and prescription still cause 2.7 million adverse reactions each year, plus 128,000 deaths. This is considered the price of progress.
Former New England Journal of Medicine editor Dr. Marcia Angell writes in her 2009 book, Drug Companies and Doctors: A Story of Corruption:
“It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines.”
Dr. Angell’s statement points to a pharmaceutical industry that’s a chronic offender of criminal fraud. It has culminated in perhaps the most significant medical peril in history: the COVID-19 vaccine, which has devastated the health of millions and killed tens of thousands—so far. It’s a bit rich, then, that this industry should belittle the safety of the humble herb.
Herbal Remedies
Compared to pharmaceuticals, herbal remedies have a weaker, yet safer effect on the body. This minimizes side effects and avoids interference with the body’s natural recovery (Anne Kennedy, Herbal Medicine, Natural Remedies). In fact, herb usage leading to hospitalization or death is so rare that statistics and examples are hard to find. Even the American Association of Poison Control Centers does not have a database for adverse reactions to herbs.
Rather than specifically fighting disease cells, herbs use active compounds that can help strengthen bodily processes and make the body more resilient overall. And although medical experts may deny it, there is a considerable amount of scientific and clinical evidence to substantiate many herbal health claims.
Did you know that garlic (a bulb), cayenne (a spice) and ginkgo (a tree leaf) can all properly be called herbs? These and other herbs can have extremely positive effects on your body. Herbal teas, for example, have proven to be one of the healthiest drinks in the world. They can be made as infusions with leaf and flower material steeped for 5 to 10 minutes or decoctions with root and twig materials boiled and simmered for 10 to 20 minutes (James A. Duke, The Green Pharmacy).
Most “soft-stemmed” herb varieties such as parsley, basil and dill can also be used in salads and on sandwiches. Other fresh herbs like mint, lavender and rosemary can be added in smaller amounts to drinks and as toppings on snacks and desserts (Michigan State University).
With the right ingredients and methods, herbs can provide a variety of benefits. Lavender and oat straw can relieve insomnia, lemongrass can aid digestion, and a fern called horsetail can strengthen bones. Black cumin seeds can aid with diabetes and high blood pressure; andrographis and elderberry can tackle flu symptoms; meadowsweet can provide pain relief; butterbur can reduce inflammation.
External ailments such as wounds or infections can be treated with an herbal poultice or compress, while an herbal cream, salve, or oil will soothe irritations, inflammations or bruises. The list of herbal benefits goes on and on.
To choose wisely among the many herbal remedies available, it’s best to have a basic knowledge of how they work and what they can do. Of the 300,000 distinct plant species we know of, fewer than 10 percent have been screened for medicinal and toxic characteristics. Most people avoid the uncertainty of doing their own herbal preparations and simply buy them standardized at health food stores or online.
The majority of medical plants are safe for non-pregnancy consumption if you abide by the following sensible guidelines. Use only plants recommended in respected herb books and follow their directions. Discontinue consumption if you experience any adverse reaction. Do not use herbs for complex conditions unless you have considerable knowledge about how to do so. If not, it’s better to make an appointment with a professional herbalist. And understand that herbs can interact with medicines, if you’re taking any.
Some great resources for a better understanding of herbs include:
Health Through God’s Pharmacy, by Maria Treben, The Healing Power of Herbs, by Michael T. Murray; The Green Pharmacy, by James A. Duke; Herbal Medicine, by Dian Dincin Buchman; The Herb Handbook, by John Lust; The Healing Herbs, by Michael Castleman; and The Herbal Drugstore, by Linda B. White.
The dominant belief of medical experts today is that natural remedies have been replaced by superior, powerful, synthetic drugs. But consider that herbs were God given for man’s wise use. They are a natural, nutritious way of promoting health and correcting mild, long-term complaints. They are chock full of nutrients and healing compounds, without added chemicals, sugars, potential carcinogens, or psychoactive potency. Just clean, powerful plants that we can use to prevent and recover from poor health.
I’m a big believer in the health-maintaining potency of herbs. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to incorporate more of these natural powerhouses into your daily life.
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