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Herbal medicines were known as human's first experience at practicing medicine. The discovery thousands of years ago about the reaction of a certain plant ingested for medical purposes are still explored, experimented, expanded, refined and categorized as for the cure and health maintenance. Many people use herbs because they feel they are safer, cheaper, natural, and have fewer side effects.
From the very beginning, plants have supplied human's everyday need: basic foods, clothing, shelter, transportation, recreations, and medicines. They have been cultivated as herbal remedies for countless generations.
Experimentation has shown that certain herbs, either on their own or in certain combinations will enhance health. Many herbs are freely available. Healthy plants can be found just by taking a walk in the nearby woods. Every part of the plant can be used, from its flowers down to its roots.
Herbs are prepared in many ways. The approach depends on the person's natural healing process. Fresh plants offer the most active ingredients so it should be quickly prepared for maximum benefit. Forms of preparation include infusions, decoctions, baths, tinctures, extracts, capsules, compresses, creams, ointments, and suppositories.
Herbs have been used to treat virtually every ailment known to man. Some uses include antiseptic, antibiotic, expectorant, fungicide, antihistamine, astringent, diuretic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, heart strengthening, and even a tonic for old age and associated weakness. Herbs can further provide relief from heart bum or itchy skin.
In spite of these qualities, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and other accredited organizations who administers herbs warned the public of risks in using herbal medicines. According to BFAD, using herbal medicine is very risky if and only if it has no clinical run admistered. It may cause death instead
of healing. And as to those in capsule form, they have no idea on how
these medicines were prepared. Although used for so long, it is
really not advisable without consulting the doctor.
Moreover, they expressed concern on herbal supplement capsules such as ABS herbal capsule and others that are projected as miracle drugs.
"Once they are registered, they are already free to advertise and
promote their product, which the licensing office have no regulation
over. They advertise therapeutic claims but in reality, supplemental only which means, they're totally different from what they imply in
advertisements," Licensing Officer Nazarita T. Lanuza explained.
People tend to believe these advertisements
so they stop taking the necessary medicines and rely on herbal ones
instead.
So it is safe to seek registered and professional herbalists for an attempt of taking herbal medicines to maintain a healthy body mind and body.
Source: GMAnewsTV; SunStar-Iloilo; www.yahoo.com
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