Health Week Day 3 -HERBS VERSUS DRUGS

 

 

HERBS VERSUS DRUGS

(IS IT RIGHT TO TAKE BOTH SIMULTANEOUSLY) -by Mr. Bankole Abioye
INTRO: In Botany (i.e. the scientific study of the plant kingdom), a herb is a seed-bearing plant which does not have a woody stem and dies down to the ground after flowering. However literally, in a common language, a herb is any plant with leaves or seeds or flowers used for flavoring, food or medicine.
To start with, in Africa, most of our foods and soup are majorly from herbs. Herbs have a high level of minerals salt and vitamins. Research has shown that though every herb is nutritional, their medicinal powers differ from one another. For instance, herbs like Graviola (Anona Muricata), lemon grass and Bitter leaf are both nutritional and medicinal while Spinach can only be made reference to based on its nutritional value. Also, it is noteworthy that prior to the advent of western medicine, Africans and other parts of the world have always sorted out majority of their health problems with herbs! In fact, the Chinese acupuncture is almost a thousand years older than western medicine.
On the other hand, a drug can be defined as a medicine or a substance which has a marked physiological effect when taken into the body. However, drugs in the layman’s language refer to pills, western medicine from hydrocarbons. Today, a large part of the world’s population prefers drugs, while others are in support of herbs. However, a section advocates combining BOTH. This I believe is where our focus lies today.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE USE HERBS AND DRUGS ALTERNATELY OR SIMULTANEOUSLY
I wish to highlight a few reasons I’ve discovered over the years.
PIRACY: In some countries, fake drugs are rampant. Patients die because they bought expired or fake drugs. Personally we are quick to make observations in our organizations. At times, the container, shape and size of the drug remain the same, but the chemical content has been altered. This is very bad. MONEY FACTOR: Severally the western drugs are about twice the price of the orthodox herbs. In a country where poverty is prevalent, surely they will be such issues of looking for the alternative IGNORANCE: A vast number of the world’s population remains in the dark as far as merits and demerits of both orthodox or herbal and western medicine is concerned.
DESPERATION: Health matters sometimes deteriorate into a life and death issue. So patients prescribe drugs for themselves (self-medication) and they take everything that looks promising.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT HERBS
They don’t really have a strict dosage adherence compared to western medicine.
Their damages on the body (if any) are easily reversible compared to western drugs.
There is a closer relationship between herbs and the body than drugs.
IS IT REALLY SAFE TO COMBINE BOTH?
My counsel:
POTENCY OF DRUGS BEING USED BY PATIENT: The kind and potency of the drug you are combining your herb with sometimes determine if it is okay to combine both or not. For instance, from experience, there are some drugs you use with strict discipline. Even the food you eat is regulated at the period of drug administration. Such drugs are no-go areas.
ALTERNATING HAS BETTER CHANCES OF SAFETY
There’s greater safety if they are not used simultaneously; i.e. you stop the drugs then start the herbs other than using them TOGETHER.
Consult your doctor: Most doctors in our age patronize herbs because they are aware of the healing powers of herbs. The entire world in the next 2 decades might be forced to return to herbal medicine considering the dangers being poised by GLOBAL WARMING. Weighing your health conditions, the doctor will also be in the best position to counsel you.
Remember we don’t all have same health issues.
I wish you be in good health always and that it may be WELL WITH YOU. Thank you.

REMEMBER…
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Thanks.

… JOY to your hearts!

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