Herbal medicines don’t work
Rubbish! Herbal medicines do work or we wouldn’t use them.
Herbal medicines have kept us alive and been our medicine since our existence. Humans have always contracted illness and suffered from degenerative conditions from living in a harsh environment. Drugs were first derived from herbs and have only been developed in the past 100-200 years. Each culture uses herbs that grow in their area and has knowledge handed down as well as general knowledge about common treatments. Herbs contain active
principals which work in the body the same way as drugs. The main difference with herbs is that they contain an array of chemical groups that work together, which is why one herb can have so many different actions. The main constituents however, aren’t at as high levels as drugs but they are essentially far safer to use with less risk of side-effects than drugs because of this.
Some herbs are fast acting yet some take time to build up in the body.
One thing for sure though is that the herbs that are in use today do work. The key is in picking the right herb for the right condition. IF the diagnosis is right and the herbs is right for the condition then you can bet your bottom dollar that the treatment will work. At the Apothecary we ensure that whenever we dispense herbs we make sure that you are given herbs in their correct dose range.
Herbs are natural therefore safe
Not always true.
We must remember that plants can be poisonous and that almost everything in nature is toxic in high doses. However we mainly use ‘tonics’ to treat the underlying cause which can be gentler and used over time to correct the organ functions. As with anything, dosage instructions must be followed. At the Apothecary we always provide dosage instructions.
Herbal medicine is expensive
We don’t think so.
Herbal medicines and the price you pay for them is a reflection if the costs it has taken to get that herb to the market. Someone has to grow them, pick them, process them, manufacture them and get them on the shelf. They have to be quality checked, and tested before they can be sold. So we think they are cheap. Herbal medicine is not funded by the government unlike pharmaceutical medicines so the user has to pay for them. If affordability is an issue, speak to us and we will tailor your treatment with options that don’t cost an arm and a leg.
Herbs are for Hippies
A’hem… that’s Urban hippies!
Ok we’re not all hippies – except for Helena – she lived in Motueka once, but a lot of people are turning to complementary medicines to use alongside or before using prescribed drugs because they work. They are easy to use, they get results, they are cheap, and there are less side effects. Trust us – people who use herbs are not hippies.
Herbal medicines are not researched
Not true.
There is lots of research coming through on herbal medicines including clinical trials as well as pharmacological actions. All of the herbs we use have constituents that have been identified in terms of their molecular structure, chemical group and their general properties are well known as well as loads of traditional evidence, which let’s face it, before the clinical trial was invented, was all we had.
Remember also that unresearched doesn’t mean ineffective. Nutrition however is well researched and has been since the 1950’s. The word vitamin means ‘essential’. More and more evidence is building about the importance of key nutrients in the diet and the role they play in our bodies.
Herbal medicine is the same as Homeopathy
No.
There is a big difference between herbal medicine and homeopathy, and the two are unrelated. Homeopathy is a form of energy healing while herbal medicine uses chemistry and pharmacological pathways to relieve suffering. Unless you are prescribed either Herbal medicine or homeopathy by a specialist in that kind of medicine then the remedy may not do you much good. They both rely on expert matching of remedy and person, so rather than self-prescribe, find out what’s good for you and why by consulting with a specialist.