People are often buying herbal supplements based on the claim “this is good for everyone”. The marketing of supplements in this way, often with misrepresented scientific claims, causes people to waste money and at worse can cause physical harm.
The marketing statement “this is good for everyone” illuminates a few fundamental flaws of logic. One is the concept that “all men are created equal”. This is a political statement and has little to do with medicine. Diet, exercise, and medical care must be specific to the individual. Everyone has different needs. Secondly is the concept that there is one thing that will solve all problems and bring the user better health. Health is a process that includes far more things than just what pill is being consumed.
These flaws in logic play out in the many herbal supplements that are prevalent around the Milwaukee area and every other city. Many people are sold various products with lots of marketing claims. What is missing is the medical component to determine the proper use of these herbal medicines and other supplements. It is similar to the statement “your house has a problem, therefore you need a hammer.” Since the problem is not determined, there is no determination that the hammer is the proper tool. The hammer is a good tool, just as many supplements are good tools. The important question is whether that tool is needed.
Just as you would not ask your accountant how to repair your house, you should not be using a sales person, marketing information or even a biomedical diagnosis to determine which natural medicines are right for you. Biomedical western medicine is geared to defining a problem based on the tools used to fix the problem. (drugs, surgery, therapy etc.) Other systems of medicine, like Traditional Chinese medicine are geared to defining a problem based on the use of herbs, food, acupuncture and lifestyle changes. Using a biomedical diagnosis to determine what herbs to use is simply an inherently flawed way of determining the proper use of the medicine.
The use of natural supplements for health should be determined by someone who has the knowledge to evaluate what is most appropriate for the situation. Always ask about the credentials and training of the person you are getting your advice from. That is the healthy logical and safe way to use natural medicines.
Click here for more on herbal safety, and the history of herbs as medicine
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