OE_1
Speech Communication
Fain Fine Arts 14B
Judy Braddy
Onyinye Enuoyibo
Topic: Herbs as Medicine
According to the Plant Medicine in Ghana, herbal medicine is popular and it is a large part of alternative medicine that can be used to treat common conditions. Herbal medicines are those medicines, which are purely made by herbs. Many well established medicines originally come from plants. Traditional herbal medicines have been used in several countries for centuries to treat aliments, this countries includes China, India, Ghana, Nigeria, United Kingdom and several others. Although there are other conventional medical treatments available, herbal medicines have become a popular choice today. The website of the World Health Organization WHO indicates that Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America use herb as medicine to help meet some of their primary health care needs. In Africa, up to 80% of the population uses herbal medicine for primary health care. In industrialized countries such as the UK adaptations of herbal medicine are termed as “Complementary” or “Alternative” medicine. The website of the World Health Organization WHO estimates in Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Zambia, the first line of treatment for 60% of children with high fever resulting from malaria is the use of herbal medicines at home. With statistics above there are some evidence that combining herbs with medicine may be an effective method for treating some of our ailments. Using herbs, as medicine is healthier, heals slowly to reboot the body to its original functions with no side effects and it is affordable, and cheaper.
First, herbs as medicine are healthier. According to a May 7th, 2013, issue of the New York Times, over one hundred years ago, they did not have the technology that are used today to create these pharmaceutical medicines, but what the doctors did have was a common knowledge of herbal medicine to create remedies that did not only cure the sick momentarily, or give them a couple hours of relief at a time, but to create remedies that made their bodies stronger and healthier in the long run. Herbal remedies provide these reliefs that are healthy for the body, using natural substances to fight diseases, instead of manmade kinds. Herbal pharmaceutical has its beginnings in old societies including those of the Egyptians, American Indians and Chinese. Numerous pharmaceutical medications depend on the combined forms of naturally occurring compounds found in plants. Pharmaceutical medicines with an herb based formulation have the basic herb with added chemicals that could help boost the reactions to increase the effectiveness of that medicine. Many of these chemicals added are usually the main causes for the side effects that come with the drug. These chemicals aren’t good for the body and can bring about health threatening issues for its users. Herbal medicines plan to return the body to a state of natural balance, with the goal that it can begin mending itself. Distinctive herbs follow up on various frameworks of the body to help those systems work in like manner. A portion of the herbs that have been scientifically studied, have been observed to be successful and safe
Second, herbs are used to heal slowly to reboot the body to its original functions with no side effects. Herbal medicine is more effective and has fewer or no side effects compared to pharmaceutical drugs. There have been no severe side effects that have been caused by most herbal medicines to date. It has been used for thousands of years. Plants are where most of the herbs in the medicine come from. An article on Herbal Medicine by Dr Hannibal Mburu, who is a distinguished professor at Whitesand University, Capetown suggests that one of the greatest benefits associated with herbal medicine is the non existence of side effects. Also, they tend to offer long lasting benefits in terms of overall wellness. There has been a return to more natural, traditional ways of living. While the therapeutic effects of many herbal remedies have now been scientifically validated, others are backed by strong traditional, historical and anecdotal evidence. Evidence indicates that the use of natural remedies for cure of diseases have fewer side effects compared to the use of herbal drugs. Every medication, including those that are sold over the counter has at least one side effect. Commonly used drugs have been found to affect every system. Frequent reactions include skin rashes, nausea, headaches and dizziness. More severe reactions that can be fatal or severely debilitating include deafness, depression, angina, serious blood disorders such as anemia, liver or kidney toxicity, or anaphylactic shock. These occur in a statistically significant proportion of the population.
Third, herbs as medicine are affordable and cheaper. Herbs are easily accessible and that makes them inexpensive. For that reason, some common disorders like eczema and pimples are cured using only herbal drugs because they are relatively cheaper and work better than the pharmaceutical drugs. Treating malaria involves so much cost when the treatment involves the use of pharmaceutical drugs, so most people in developing countries treat themselves from their homes using herbal medicine. An article titled, ‘Preventing Malaria’ in a September 27, 2014, issue of medical research reports that Malaria is a common disease curable by the use of herbs and the neem tree, which also has a scientific name of azadirachta indica. The neem tree is also used by herbalists in the treatment of yellow fever all at a very cheap cost, and because of that, almost every single home in Ghana has a neem tree planted there. Fortunately, there are plenty of herbal remedies that can save both your health and wealth. Herbs as medicine are more affordable and cheaper than pharmaceutical medicines. According to a July 27th, 2015, issue of the my Herbs magazine reports that the increase in the costs of pharmaceuticals is pushing numerous individuals far away from Big Pharmaceutical companies, and unto the mission to discover less expensive, alternative cures. The prices of pharmaceutical drugs are very tentative and can be very costly. On the other hand, herbs and spices are virtually free because many of them can be found naturally grown. Herbalists pick these plants and transform them into a more devour able substance. An average patient of malaria can spend anywhere from $300-$750 for treatment through orthodox methods. The website of the medicine news indicates that however, there is a Chinese flower known as Wormwood. When turned into tea, this herbal medicine becomes one of the top medicines used to cure malaria; and can be attained for about $10 or less. This shows the great difference between the prices of these pharmaceuticals. Due to the accessibility and affordability, many people are switching sides. Other herbal treatments that are just as effective at combating malaria including quinine, which comes from the cinchona tree. You don’t have to spend so much for your health. There are various other herbs and spices that can boost your health. Herbal medicines are very cheap in comparison to the conventional form of medication. Herbs are affordable and easily accessible to everyone.
In conclusion, herbs as medicine are healthier, affordable and natural. Herbs as medicine is a safe and effective way that treats, and gets rid of common conditions and viruses that makes us sick.