subject: Where Can I Find Natural Remedies? [print this page] There is a bewildering array of natural remedies for health problems. There are also a lot of different names such as complimentary or alternative medicine. The broad description is applied to any health intervention which is not included in conventional medicine. It can describe anything from a therapy such as chiropractic to treat a condition to using herbs or foods to try to prevent health complaints.
Lots of pharmaceuticals have many potential side effects, some of which can be serious. For this reason there are lots of people who try to avoid them and find a natural alternative. For minor complaints this can be relatively straightforward. The internet has many resources describing home remedies and benefits of herbs.
Many natural therapies are ancient ideas which have been passed on from generation to generation. They have strong cultural ties and people are emotionally connected to these natural remedies.
Herbal remedies are very popular. Most regions have a history of using their local plants and trees to cure illness. In some places that knowledge is being forgotten as conventional medicine treats the majority of things but in other places the ancient ways are still the most popular. For example in the highlands of Peru and Bolivia people still use the old method to combat the effects of the altitude, Coca leaves. Modern research has shown these leaves contain compounds which are beneficial to health in a number of ways and they help the lungs to extract oxygen and boost stamina. Many modern medicines come from plant compounds.
As modern science figures out the causes of disease it seems that natural substances can often help. For example, Omega 3 oils can help with cardio-vascular diseases. There are many supplements and extracts available which can help relieve or prevent lots of health problems.
You can find natural remedies in a number of places. They are any kind of medical intervention which are not part of conventional science.