1 of 5

Write now Article Tools

Nature opened the first drugstore. Primitive man and the animals and birds all around the world depended on the preventative use of its stock of plants and herbs to avoid disease, maintain health, and to affect cures when sickness prevailed.

Chicken soup in my youth seemed to me to be the cure-all to varied ills, as the first sign of sickness I would be given a steaming bowlful. Yet my mother was all-wise when in affecting cures to other illnesses, as she used other stock from nature's drug store. Castor oil was to cure warts, lemon tea to affect a cure for a cough, tender dandelions stems to aid in appetite, a little sack of garlic worn around the neck to ward of the winter flu germs, etc..

Honey was a useful remedy for my mother in affecting cures, be it for laxative, sedative or curing a common cold. "Trust in the bees," was the reminder to me when I was fed a teaspoon of honey when I was ill with a simple disorder in the body. Its use was quite a common remedy around my neighborhood as it was quite inexpensive compared to pharmaceuticals and, by some miracle, it worked as a curative for simple ills.

Folk medicine refers collectively traditionally used for treatment of illness and injury, aid maintenance of wellness. Herbal medicine is an aspect of folk medicine the use of gathered plants and herbs to make teas, powders and poultices purportedly to affect cures. Modern medicine in the past had regarded herbal medicine negatively and disregarded its effect in cures of illness and disease. But in recent times it was discovered that some of the herbal cures were effective.

Increasing attention is being paid to the folk medicine of indigenous peoples in areas of the world, both past and present, in hope of finding new pharmaceuticals. Of special concern today is the extinction of many species of plants and herbs by the clearing of the continuing clearing of the rain forests that may cause the loss of species of plants that could provide these new aids to modern medicine.

The World Health Organization estimates that eighty percent of the world population relies on traditional, plant-based medicine for primary health care. Whether it be Chinese medicine and its many traditional practices, Indian medicinal systems of the ancient science of Ayurveda, the traditional Asian medicine, or the Dutch folk practitioners of Native America, where patients have been treated for centuries.

Herbal medicine is quite useful to treat mild depression, improve memory, hearth health and

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Exploring the effectiveness of natural remedies?
We want to hear your view. Write now!