Alternative Therapy: Herbs

ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES DIFFER in a number of respects from conventional scientific medical practice. Conventional medicine treats the symptoms of diseases with a variety of means including drugs and surgery. In contrast the emphasis of alternative therapies is on identifying the causes of disease and its prevention.

The prevention of disease as a goal of alternative therapies includes the extensive use of herbs, vitamins, and minerals. These can make some differences in health. However, dietary approaches run a wide range from extremist nutritional “cancer cures” to the adoption of health lifestyles. Without a doubt the foods people consume affect their health. However, the desperation of some people in matters of health makes them prey to exaggerated claims about foods, herbs, vitamins, and other dietary supplement.

In the current understanding of conventional medicine the use of herbs and other supplements do not independently prevent or cure cancer. None of them are “miracle cures.” However, they can play an important role in the reduction of the risk of developing many cancers by the greater attention to a healthy lifestyle including exercise and nutrition that practicing alternative therapies encourages.

The most valuable dietary practice for the prevention of cancer is to consume a diet high in vegetables and fruit that is also reduced in its consumption of animal fats. The Asian diet and Mediterranean diet are diets that offer reduced animal fats with lots of vegetables and fruits. In the case of the Indian and South East Asian versions of Asian diets the use of spices seasons food that would otherwise be bland. In the case of the Mediterranean Diet the extensive use of herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano or basil enhances the taste of the food. There are in addition health claims made for the herbs that are used in alternative therapy diets.

Phytomedicine is relatively new term to describe the branch of pharmaceutical study that evaluates and uses herbs and herbal derivatives as well as synthetic derivatives. They are used for a wide range of ailments from pain killing to chemotherapy. The phytomedicine medical study has also merged some with ancient herbal remedies to form complementary remedies. On the other hand many alternative therapies are used or advocated in contradiction to this scientific branch of medicine.

Herbs are scented leafy green temperate zone plants that are used to flavor food. They may also be used for medicinal and for aroma enhancement. Herbs may be used fresh or dried. In contrast spices are usually dried tropical plant leavers, roots, flowers, or seeds. They may be used as bactericidal preservatives or as medicines. There are at least four approaches to herbal therapy. The approaches used are those of the ancient Indian tradition of Ayurevedic medicine; ancient Chinese traditional medicine, herbalism, and herbal medicine.

The Ayurevedic tradition use of herbs is based on the idea of energy medicine rather than biological reactions. Each herbal remedy is used to restore balance among the elements of earth, air, fire, water and ether. From which the philosophy derives three doshas (humors) that are vata (air), pitta (fire), and kapha (water). The system the assigns herbs to five categories based on taste—astringent, bitter, pungent, salty, sour and sweet. Each taste is believed to be related to a healing property.

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