It would seem silly for a person to claim that using a rock to pound nails was better than using a hammer because the the rock is all-natural. Yet this is the logic behind the use of many herbal supplements that people buy. Many people are using traditional herbs based on the biomedical diagnosis and lab tests and following the strategies of biomedical treatment with the idea that just because it is natural it is a better way to treat the condition.
Traditional herbal medicines were used based on the symptoms of the patient, not a biomedical diagnosis of the condition. Traditional medical systems that used herbs were concerned about treating the patient. Western Biomedical medicine is much more concerned about treating the disease and “fixing the problem rather than helping the body to heal itself.
This difference shows up in the terminology of the medical systems. In Biomedical medicine if you have inflammation you are given an anti-inflammatory, depression- an anti depressant. Traditional herbs were prescribed based on definitions that categorized the specific signs and symptoms of the patient. Therefore a herbal medicine that works for a viral based fever, is not going to be appropriate for a viral infection with no fever. Using herbal medicines based on modern disease definitions often leads to problems with overuse of the herbal medicines, poor results and often unwanted side effects and drug and herb interactions.
A common example of this is the treatment of menopause. Traditional Herbal treatment involves using herbs and foods that control the symptoms and help the body make the transition at this stage of life. The western biomedical approach is to “fix” the situation by artificially fighting the natural transition by adding hormones. Whether those hormones come from a pharmaceutical company or an “all-natural source” is irrelevant, the treatment strategy is the same.
If you are going to use herbal medicines as part of your strategy to improve your health, it is important to work with a nationally board certified herbalist in your area who can help you determine what is appropriate for your body. This is true herbal medicine, and the way that it is most effective.
For more information see these articles on Diagnosis, thinking about herbs and defining medicine, herbalists, supplement safety, and herb standardization
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