[rcoreyus]

Any medication (manufactured or natural) that works (isn't a placebo), must have some effect on your body chemistry. I don't see any particular reason to think that a "natural" chemical that effects you chemistry will be any safer than a manufactured chemical. In my previous post I was just pointing out that natural doesn't equal safe. I don't know what is used in "herbal" remedies. But if the (natural) chemicals have an effect, then they can potentially do harm.

I do my best to avoid all drugs. I'll take antibiotics if I have a bacterial infection, or pain killers if recovering from a serious injury, but that is about it. I probably take less than 5 pills of any sort in a year.

[miffed23]

[quote=rcoreyus;43050]Any medication (manufactured or natural) that works (isn't a placebo), must have some effect on your body chemistry. I don't see any particular reason to think that a "natural" chemical that effects you chemistry will be any safer than a manufactured chemical. In my previous post I was just pointing out that natural doesn't equal safe. I don't know what is used in "herbal" remedies. But if the (natural) chemicals have an effect, then they can potentially do harm. [quote]

I understand what youre saying, but herbal medicine is not a chemical nor is it manufactured. It is solely the use of plants and plants only...it doesnt work in the same way as synthetic drugs do.

Your body views plants as food and utilizes them very efficiently, taking almost all the valuable active principles and organic compounds right into your body's cells. In contrast, your body does not recognize synthetic drugs as food and often utilises only 5 to 10% of what you take in, leaving the rest to float around in your bloodstream and cause unpleasant side effects.

The underlying aim of all herbal remedies / medicines or whatever you want to call them, is to restore the body to a state in which it is better able to heal itself.

Excuse the debate like essay, but my occupation is heading in this direction

[Fallen1]

I understand what rcoreyus is saying. Just because it's natural/herbal doesn't mean that it can't be dangerous. There are some things (mushrooms etc.) that will kill us. Just because it comes from "mother nature" doesn't mean it can't harm us.

Everyone's bodies are different and reacts differently to different things. What will work for one may not work for another. What is safe for one, another's body may have an adverse reaction to the same thing. A person just needs to be cautious when taking anything even if it's natural.

[miffed23]

I understand what rcoreyus is saying. Just because it's natural/herbal doesn't mean that it can't be dangerous. There are some things (mushrooms etc.) that will kill us. Just because it comes from "mother nature" doesn't mean it can't harm us.

Everyone's bodies are different and reacts differently to different things. What will work for one may not work for another. What is safe for one, another's body may have an adverse reaction to the same thing. A person just needs to be cautious when taking anything even if it's natural.

Yep, im regretting my last post now. I sound like an arrogent tosspost doctor, preaching like herbal medicine is the best thing on earth...

[Fallen1]

Well if I had to choose between man made and natural of course I would choose the natural .... but there again caution needs to be taken.

[rcoreyus]

I'm not sure there is any clear difference between natural and synthetic drugs. I think a lot of natural "drugs" actually evolved as poisons (cocaine, caffene, etc). A lot of synthetic drugs are manufactured versions of natural chemicals - no chemical difference.

My big concern with "natural" medications is that they are not regulated or tested as well as the synthetic ones. I'm sure some are helpful - but it is difficult to tell if the herbal drug manufacturer has done careful testing. Some really are "ancient" remedies that have been used for centuries - some just claim to be. Also, the "ancients" aren't any wiser than we are - there were ancient quacks as well. The ancient Peruvians chewed coca leaves to give them energy - but I wouldn't recommend it for someone now.