Alternative Medicine and It's Use in Natural Pain Management

Chronic Pain conditions are a growing problem in the United States. And while the debate still rages about whether or not chronic pain should be managed as a separate condition or just a symptom of another problem it is clear that pain management has become a booming segment of the healthcare industry.
Consequently, the use of pharmaceutical drugs for pain control has also reached an all time high. Drugs like Oxicontin, Vicodin and methadone, are front page news in causing America's latest drug crisis, as a result, the use of cocaine and heroin have also reached levels not seen in this country in 30 years.
Due to the economic and scientific phenomena of the pharmaceutical revolution of the 20th century, thousands of years of knowledge were suddenly abandoned. Herbal medicine has safely and effectively treated pain for millennia, and is for safer than the synthesized, processed medications that today's doctors seem to be all too willing to hand out like so much candy.
In the realm of alternative medicine, there are many forms of natural pain management that are in fact, the basis of where many of our oh-so-popular pharmaceutical drugs come from.
Codeine and morphine are opium derivatives that may be effective but are also highly addictive, and even aspirin is a derivative of willow bark. Many other plants have been used in natural pain management since antiquity, such as lavender and chamomile for minor pain issues and these plants have the added benefit of also assisting with the emotional component of pain such as anxiety and difficulty sleeping. Plants like henbane and mandrake are so effective that they are even used very effectively during labor to ease the pain of childbirth.
Some wonderful and powerful herbal medicine can also be found in the spice cabinet. Spices like turmeric, and ginger are two of the most powerful anti- inflammatories on the planet. These plants are natural COX-2 inhibitors; they are the alternative medicine answer to the popular pharmaceutical drugs Celebrex and Vioxx. In the middle east, India and all over Asia where the diets are rich in spices like turmeric, and ginger and cayenne, where life is also far less convenient then our own, people have a far less occurrence of arthritis and chronic back pain, and continue to work very labor intensive jobs such as farming and agriculture work even into their 90's.
There has always been an accepted school of thought in allopathic medicine that it is acceptable to injure one part of the body to heal another, thus even common over the counter NSAID pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, can cause long term damage, acetaminophen to the liver and ibuprofen to the kidneys, in natural pain management many plants, roots, barks, and other herbs not only antistetic in nature but they are also anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic as well, and herbal medicine is gentler on the system and is more synergistic with the body allowing for greater absorption of the necessary constitutes.
So you see that alternative medicine goes beyond the typically accepted ideal of treating just the symptoms and goes farther to treat many of the underlying causes as well as some of the other components involved in chronic pain conditions.

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What is herbal medicine? - Health

Herbal medicine - also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine - refers to using a plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Herbalism has a long tradition of use outside of conventional medicine. It is becoming more mainstream as improvements in analysis and quality control along with advances in clinical research show the value of medicine in the treatment and preventing disease.

What is the history of herbal medicine?

Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. Ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal uses for plants. Indigenous cultures (such as African and Native American) used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems (such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used. Researchers found that people in different parts of the world tended to use the same or similar plants for the same purposes.

In the early 19th century, when chemical analysis first became available, scientists began to extract and modify the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds, and over time, the use of medicines declined in favor of drugs.

Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some part of their primary health care. In Germany, about 600-700 plant-based medicines are available and prescribed by some 70% of German physicians. In the last 20 years in the United States, public dissatisfaction with the cost of prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in herbal medicine use.

What is herbal medicine good for?

Herbal medicine is used to treat many conditions, such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia and other degenerative diseases, among others. Herbal supplements are best taken under the guidance of a trained health care provider. Be sure to consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbs.

Who is using herbal medicine?

Nearly one-third of Americans use herbs. Unfortunately, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that nearly 70% of people taking herbal medicines (most of whom were well educated and had higher-than-average income) were reluctant to tell their doctors that they used complementary and alternative medicine. Many herbs can interact with prescription medications and cause unwanted or dangerous reactions. Be sure to consult your doctor before trying any herbal products.

How can I find a qualified herbalist in my area?

For additional information, or to locate an experienced herbalist in your area, Dr. Strande recommends contacting the American Herbalists Guild (AHG) or visiting a professional herbalist website. Dr. Strande is a Naturopath and a Microbiologist. His services include phone consultations with patients all over the world.

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Herbal treatments for male enhancement touching the heights of fidelity

Natural male enhancement has won great acceptance in the minds of people today. Its effectiveness and absence of any side effects have ensured the fidelity of such herbal male enhancement products. The number of men affected with problems of loss of libido, lack of vigour, infertility, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation etc is rising owing to the current food and life style, work culture etc. This necessitates a wider use of herbal male enhancement products.
Herbal medicine known in names such as herbalism, botanical medicine, phytomedicine etc is the use of a plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Herbalism is becoming more habitual as improvements in analysis and quality control along with advances in clinical research point up the merits of herbal medicine in treating and preventing many diseases. Herbs usually used are Echinacea, St. John's wort, ginkgo, garlic, saw palmetto, ginseng, goldenseal, valerian, chamomile, feverfew, ginger, evening primrose, milk thistle etc. Herbal medicine has given relief from many common diseases like asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, infertility problems and many male sexual disorders, etc.
Herbs in nature endow various options for treatment of sexual disorders. Herbs like Tribulus terrestris have made a remarkable increase in excess of 50% testosterone levels as per recent studies. This herb also increases sperm production and motility. Muira puama is a trusted and tested herb which is very effectual in boosting libido, power and improving potency. It particularly cares the health and endurance of reproductive organs too. Maca root is a good aphrodisiac that boosts libido in both men and women. Maca Root contains a chemical called p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which gives it this property. It is also found very effective in treating cases of sterility, male impotence, erectile dysfunction etc. It helps in clearing other sexual and reproductive disorders in men, increasing their semen volume and sperm motility. The Palmetto berries have been used for years in curing many sexual disorders and increasing libido. Saw palmetto is mainly advised for prostate gla nd problems. Testicular inflammation, Irritable bladder, Urinary tract infections etc are diseases which may affect a person's libido too. The use of this herb helps in controlling all such problems.
Numerous other natural products too, enhance male health greatly. It is incredible that oysters are good aphrodisiacs rich in zinc. It helps you to repair the sperm damage caused by environmental and chemical factors. Garlic is another well known natural libido enhancer. It contains a chemical called allicin that increases blood flow to the sexual organs. Pumpkin seeds are plenteous sources of zinc which helps to increase the sperm count. They also contain essential fatty acids like Omega-3 which increases the blood flow to sexual organs. Almonds, sardines, salmon and flaxseed are other important sources of Omega-3 acids. In addition, many fruits like water melon, pomegranate, apple, banana, tomato etc are very good for boosting sexual desire.

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