subject: Medicinal Plants and Modern Times [print this page] Creatures possessing the ability to adapt to change and come up with new procedures and solutions to problems, we humans, over the course of time have made countless discoveries and inventions that allowed us to cope up and even counter the evils and troubles that have come our way. And it is for this precise reason that we humans have learned to be arrogant and started to deviate from nature. However, although thoroughly taken for granted, Mother Nature continued to nurture us and remained to play her duty as our loving earth- ever providing and healing.
Medicinal plants and herbs are only some of the best gifts nature bestowed upon us. These traditional forms of medicie provide us therapeutic properties that are very useful in curing various diseases and healing wounds and injuries. Boosting the body's immune system, providing antiseptic and disinfecting properties and combating cancer cells, such as in the case of antioxidant polyphenols, are just some of the most common benefits we can get from these plants. Top that with the fact that they are 100% natural and post no threat whatsoever to our overall health. Although discovered and widely employed during early civilizations, the plants, over the course of time, were forced in a corner by the stronger effects of man-processed medications and procedures that promise better and faster effects.
Ironically, recent discoveries in the field of Medical Science- the very same field that gave us these synthetic drugs- are now telling us that medicinal plants are the better option. Experts are now saying that the purity level of synthetic drugs are too powerful and produce harmful effects that might not be instantly evident, but are definitely doing damage one way or the other. At its best, these harmful effects can trigger allergies or result in temporary physical changes such as acne breakouts. More harmful effects, however, have also been found; prompting the development of cancer cells or even, at some cases, resulting in instant death.
The use and sale of medicine and dietary supplements derived from plants is growing.Specialists in the fields of pharmacology, botany and microbiology, as well chemists specializing in natural products, are searching for plant-based phytochemicals that could be developed for treatment of various diseases. According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 25% of modern drugs used in the US are derived from plant sources.
As such, traditional use of medicinal plants and herbs is now recognized as a way to learn about potential future medicines. In 2001, researchers identified 122 compounds used in mainstream medicine which were derived from "ethnomedical" plant sources. Of these, 80% were used in the same or related manner as the traditional ethnomedical use.
Because of this, a growing number of physicians and scientists are now looking more closely into medicinal plants and herbs- further investigating the benefits they provide and finding ways on how to make the most out of them. Unsurprisingly, a great number of individuals now are also rediscovering the beauty of these plants, often going to alternative-medicine practitioners and Chinese herbal drugstores.
