”I rather stick to my herbal medicine! Plants are so much safer than those drugs Big Pharma sells us to make us even sicker!”
How many times have I read this, or a variation of it, in the comments of one of my medical posts? How often have I read it online, in chat rooms, in Facebook comments, in every place where people gather. And I get it, it’s easy to mistrust companies that earn their money because people get sick. But as a biology student, a future scientist and someone interested in medical research, I see the other side too.
I see how my professors fight to have money for their research, be it liver cancer, yeast-based vaccinations or dementia. I see the Ph.D. students slave away in the laboratories, see them feeding, weighing and checking individual lab mice. I see them train bees to gain insight into how memory works.
Sure, someone who produces medication for profit isn’t doing it only because they care so much about people, but in the end, the money is needed for further research. Do you know how much lab equipment costs? How expensive the chemicals needed are? And don’t forget that the researchers need money to live too. All this still doesn’t justify the sometimes ridiculously high drug prices, especially in the USA, but it at least shows why the medicine can’t be for free.
Now to the actual question, why can’t we just chew some herbs like our ancestors did? Why do we have to isolate and refine everything and then press it into pills? Surely, it would cut a lot of the costs to just grow the herbs? @suesa
Aside from the fact that growing that many plants would take up space we need for food production, it’s a lot easier to distribute pills. They don’t go bad as easily. But more importantly, the amount of active substances is actually controlled.
Go to a store and buy two apples. Bite in the first one and chew. How does it taste? Now bite into the second one. Does it taste exactly the same? How about the density? Is it softer than the first apple? Slightly harder?
I’d be surprised if you had grabbed two apples that are exactly the same. Bonus points if they’re not commercially produced but from a small farm or something. It’s very unlikely that the two apples contain exactly the same amount of sugars and acids. And the same applies to medicinal plants.
Moreover, many plant-derived chemicals are actually deadly if you get them directly from the plant they’re in.
Atropine is generally used to treat specific kinds of pesticide poisonings or extremely slow heart rates. Do you know where it’s from? The plant is called Atropa belladonna but maybe you know it better as deadly nightshade. You shouldn’t eat the berries of A. belladonna, as the atropine contained in it can not only slow your heart rate but also stop your sweating and breathing.
Want something to possibly treat cancer with? Colchicine might be a promising (don’t laugh) candidate for that because it interrupts cell multiplication. But wait, this kind of cells don’t just exist in tumors, right?
Colchicum autumnale, known as meadow saffron, can be easily confused with Allium ursinum (wild garlic or bear leek) and if you eat it, it induces vomiting and, depending on the degree of your poisoning, death. Fun fact: There is no antidote yet!
By Hedwig Storch
Wait, that wasn’t fun …
One more candidate to treat cancer (that’s already being used) is Taxol, which is called Paclitaxel in its natural form. It’s produced by the Pacific yew, along with a bunch of other alkaloids (the name of this group of chemicals). Paclitaxel isn’t the chemical that will kill you, the other alkaloids contained in this plant will. But we’re talking about herbal cures here, you don’t get isolated substances! All or nothing!
Now before you start typing your comment in outrage (if you planned on doing that I’m actually impressed you got as far as this sentence! Thanks for reading before commenting! Include the word “Pumpernickel” in your comment to get a 15% instead of 10% upvote! Only applies to comments I’d usually upvote.), let me say that I don’t generally oppose herbal treatments.
Yes, you heard me right. After everything I just said, I don’t think taking certain herbs for certain illnesses is wrong.
But
Not everything can be treated with plants. Not all plants that contain helpful substances can just be eaten/cooked/made into tea. It’s often necessary to refine them to make them safe. If you’re not very invested into the topic and don’t have knowledge that isn’t funded on stuff a random person on the internet once said (and yes, I am including myself), you shouldn’t just go ahead and pick whatever plant you think is right for the given situation.
There is a reason people study this shit for years. You wouldn’t ask a pharmacist to build a car. Don’t ask the car mechanic to tell you what you should take for your severe ear infection. They’re specialized for a reason.
Additionally
Even when you are 100% you’re doing the right thing and taking the correct herbs, double check if they’re as safe as you think. There was an analysis in the USA of 251 Asian herbal products. 36 contained arsenic, 35 contained mercury, and 24 contained lead. You can kill yourself by taking these.
And if you’ve found a safe source for your safe herb, check for interactions with herbs and drugs you are already taking. Gingko and blood thinners combined are dangerous. So is Primrose Oil when you have epilepsy.
So please, be careful and think before taking any “miracle cure” (Read @mobbs ‘ latest piece on Chinese Pseudoscience) that’s supposed to be safe because it’s not coming from Big Pharma. After all, the person selling it to you is taking money for it too.
Be smart. Get a reliable doctor whom you trust. Take plants and herbs when appropriate but also take drugs when appropriate. There’s a reason we developed modern medicine.
Sources:
Dietary supplements and herbal medicine toxicities—when to anticipate them and how to manage them
Herbal medicines can be lethal, pathologist warns
Pictures taken from pixabay.com
It's funny how we were just talking about the evils of modern medicine in chat, and now you've just posted this! :)
As a person with many libertarian-style views, I'm often confronted with a lot of assumptions that I believe certain things. There seem to be many fringe beliefs that mesh well with a general distrust of centralised authority, and one of them that comes up a lot is alternative medicine in general.
Treat your diseases with herbs and homeopathy! Cure your cancer with algae smoothies! Give birth at home miles away from medical attention! Vaccines cause autism! Breast is best! (Okay, they're actually right about that last one. At least, I think they are.)
I feel a bit like the odd one out sometimes, retaining my trust in all this "established" science and medicine when I distrust so many other things people take for granted... but I think it might be the decentralisation factor that makes it different for me. When scientists sponsored by entirely different entities spread across the entire world agree on something, you should probably give a bit of credit to what they have to say. If there's any doubt about a subject, people are out there talking about it, very much in the open, and the truth will come out sooner or later.
About the other thing: I don't like pumpernickel very much. Always preferred rye... especially toasted, with eggs. Mmm. Rye toast.
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Eugh. I hate it when anti-vaxxers preach this sentiment. It's a claim that's based on refuted evidence, but instead of taking that refutation at face value, for some reason it's assumed to be a massive conspiracy by big pharma. It makes discussion pointless, because their facts are not the same as your facts.
Sometimes I just have to shake my head at people who won't apply Occam's Razor - Is it more likely that vaccines don't cause autism, or is it more likely that vaccines do cause autism but there's a global coverup and every other scientist, globally, has been silenced by Big Pharma?
A trending post was just talking about how vaccines do not stop disease, and their only evidence was that rates of disease were already decreasing before vaccines were introduced. It's like saying airbags don't work because cars already have seatbelts! I'm not sure if there's a conscious choice to ignore logic, or if it's solely based on mistrust and paranoia?
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Hanlon's razor guides us to
Now I don't really think anti-vaxxers are stupid as such, at least, not all of them. I think it's unproductive to make that assertion. Some people might say I'm stupid for believing some of the things I do, but I'd rather they didn't, and I believe in treating others how I'd like to be treated.
I also don't think they're purposefully ignoring logic. Instead, they are driven by paranoia and distrust into a sort of self-perpetuated skepticism of life, the universe, and everything. Just as vaccines give us herd immunity, anti-vaxxers share amongst themselves a sort of herd ignorance. It's involuntary.
We can prove vaccines work. We have data to support it and a widespread, decentralised, and organic web of trust confirms it. But something happened with these folks' lives which shook their faith in that web of trust, or did not allow it to establish in the first place. If you are raised believing not to trust the establishment-- as part of a "chosen people"-type religious sect, for example-- then you won't know any better than to immediately dismiss anything widely regarded as fact simply because it is the mainstream status quo.
Anyone who's ever been religious can understand the cognitive dissonance encountered when considering evidence which contradicts dogma. There's an interesting sort of ever-present nagging feeling that none of this is real. That it's all a test. If you've never been religious, a way to awaken similar feelings within yourself is to consider that you are living inside a simulation. Imagine the skepticism with which you would approach almost every assertion from someone who doesn't share your belief in the simulation. You simply cannot get anywhere in a debate against this sort of reasoning. The only winning move is not to play.
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I suspect that internet propagation of urban myths enjoys some infamy in spreading controversy and the idea that you can't believe what you read by supposed authorities (Bill Gates will send you money if you forward this comment to everyone you know. I live in Seattle and he's been sending me checks for years!) and now we have 'fake news' to add to it (After H&M faced huge controversy for putting an African American boy to model a hoodie which read “Coolest monkey in the jungle”, It is being reported that H&M is planning on releasing a new collection that according to chairman Stefan Persson, is “equally racist to all the other races”. The collection will be called the “You’re Not Alone” collection.) Both of these types of things erode our ideas that mass disseminated information can be trusted.
Belief in false info isn't new but now that we have an easy method of checking facts (people don't do it anyway) we also have a wider distribution of falsehoods and for fake facts.
(@suesa!) Pumpernickle, compared to other breads, is actually quite healthy as it has a very low glycemic load (low carb) and contains a boatload of resistant starches (doesn't digest easily and provides fiber) if it is honestly made from pumpernickle flour and isn't cut by white flour.
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I will some it up for you.
Drug Thugs Big pHARMa Rockefeller Funded < Ignorant Doctors trusting LIARS > 26 doses of vaccines the first year of life >
Aluminum + Polysorbate 80> Over stimulated microglia and astrocytes
constantly pouring out pro inflammatory cytokines during the immunological programming of the brain >
Cytokine storm > Brain inflammation > Encephalopathy > Demyelination > Damage to the protective covering (myelin sheath) that surrounds
nerve fibers in your brain, optic nerves and spinal cord > Nerve impulses slow or even stop > Neurological problems > Oh it is just a
fever that is normal when neurotoxins cross the blood brain barrier > Just take tylenol >
Great deplete your glutathione which is necessary for the removal of heavy metals > Next well baby visit more doses > More Aluminum >
More activation > More inflammation More destruction > Autism.
Try building a house in a storm.
#1 cause of Autism? Ignorant
Doctors trusting liars.
Any medical professional who believes that it is justified to inject neurotoxins, antibiotics, antigens, preservatives,
adjuvants, stabilizers, buffers, emulsifiers, polysorbate 80, aluminum, mercury, formaldehyde, live viruses, egg protein,
human DNA, human cell lines from aborted infants, and protein from human blood into any person to prevent any disease is
completely misguided, misinformed, deluded and ignorant of any logic regarding human health.
What do you think autistic kids have going on?
Neuroinflammation!
Neuroglial activation!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15546155
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Breast is best but there's no shame in other methods if a person can't breastfeed for whatever reason :P
Anyway, I get what you're saying. Those beliefs and view always seem to cluster with one another and it's sometimes really annoying how a person you generally agree with can utter such nonsense.
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I know. They'll be going on about how taxes suck, the government should stay out of our business, that sort of thing.... then they drop the anti-vax bomb, and I just can't help but be a little bummed out.
Do you want polio? Because that's how you get polio.
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Plants are life!!!
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Polio ? You mean chemical poisoning?
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I agree to your post, on my own opinion I rather stick to organic certified herbal plants or grow my own herbs and plants which tends to be 80% less side effects
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Herbs and pharmaceuticals both have their place. In the end it matters how they are applied. If you are giving either just to suppress symptoms then you are just creating a dependency and not getting to the root problem.
Herbs can be very poisonous ricin, for example, is from the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) and is one of the most toxic natural compounds out there in its purified form. However the cold pressed oil from the same plant is safe to take orally.
In Canada all supplements have to have a NPN number which means that there is research backing the claim on the bottle and that the suggested serving is safe to take.
For the reasons stated above, if you are going to take a herb that has any sort of toxicity profile it should be from a reputable company that does quality analysis so that you know the dose of herb that you are taking. DIY wildcrafting herbs should only be left for the ones with a high safey margin. Such as pumpernickel.
Going to a professional trained in using herbs and familiar with medications, such as north american naturopathic doctors, is the best way to ensure that you are getting benefit from you herbs in a safe manner.
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I didn't read your comment before my own, but I completely agree with you @healthbasics
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It does not matter the comparison ..
Most medicines have normal ingredients
Such as plants are a natural medicine
Industrial ingredients in medicines should be prevented permanently
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Your lack of background in organic chemistry is obvious. In most cases, there's no difference between a plant-derived and an artificially created chemical, if the aim is to create the same thing.
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LoL...beg to defer slightly here though in principle we have one common objective ie to stay healthy. As for me I avoid pharmaceutical drugs and stay along with natural organic food, it doesn't have to be unfamiliar herbs but common every day vegetables and fruits ang any organic food grown in the garden yard. This works 100% for me. Thanks for the share in info.
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Regardless of any of this, it's very bad taste to upvote your own comment with more than the post.
If organic food works for you, great. But I wouldn't treat a bad infection with that.
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Thanks for the advise. My apology for that.
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With an excellent diet, the chances of you developing that bad infection will be greatly reduced.
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Pumpernickel
People at home here in Africa still take herbal drugs. I personally taught it was safe and it saved cost but with all that you've outlined here about the separation of herbal drugs to get the modernized tablet we take, I now know why pharmacist take up to 6 years to Study their profession.
Because if we just go around taking herbal we might take the wrong dose and concentration
Thanks for the enlightenment
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I love that you chose the word Pumpernickel.
In response to what you wrote, generally I agree with you @suesa , and here is why:
I believe doing anything that could be potentially harmful, without the proper research is foolhardy. Like you said, you don't go to a pharmacist to build a car.
However, I do see the value of both pharmaceutical and herbs.
I have been exposed to so called "Eastern" and "Western" medicine my whole life. In my experience, they can be complementary. For example, I had a medical problem when I was about 6 years of age that Western doctors could not cure, but a Chinese doctor was able to do so with herbs and acupuncture. Yet, there are other ailments, for example my ADD, that I treat with Western medicine.
So, for me, they are both pieces to the puzzle. A puzzle I am so invested in, that I decided to become a doctor. Now, if only there were a combined MD/Chinese medicine doctorate. If that existed, I believe we would get the best of both worlds from a single diagnostician that knew herbs and pharmaceuticals well enough to prescribe the best treatment for each individual.
But that would require a blending of traditions, and unfortunately, I don't see that happening any time soon. Then again, they are combining MD and DO programs, so who knows, maybe someday in the near future my wish will come true. 😀
Oh and I think you wrote save twice but maybe meant to write safe?
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Yes I meant safe, got to correct this when I come home. With English as a second language, this always happens :P
A mix of both worlds is actually not that rare in Germany, my doctor practices both, modern and "alternative" medicine.
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In North America the medical system has pretty much zero knowledge about herbs and generally assume that they are going to react with the medications that a doctor wants to put their patient on.
That is why there was such a need for a separate regulated profession practicing alternative medicine which Naturopathic medicine fills. It is much more common for a MD in Germany to use herbs or homeopathy then in North America to our detriment.
Canada and the US both have some of the most expensive healthcare systems in the world and my opinion the only way we are going to bring the expenses down is to start trying herbs and homeopathy before pharmaceuticals rather then after pharmaceuticals don't work.
@foodaddict if you really want to blend Eastern and Western medicine I would suggest you check out some integrative medical conferences or the naturopathic schools in your area so that you can practice true to what you believe. (unless you are wanting to do surgery)
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I remember having a biology course when I was a teenager and I remember some fun facts about different plants which had been traditionally used for medicine. According to my teacher, one specific kind of plant was used if you had tapeworms and it could help you to get rid of it.. basically because the plant was poisonous and the tapeworm died because of the poison, when the human just got really sick from eating the plant.
However, luckily we mostly eat pumpernickels and other nice things nowadays instead of dangerous plants.
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Ty!
I get especially mad when people start confusing homeopathics with herbs used as drugs, and this happens all the time^^
The former are provenly useless, herbs (including Pumpernickel^^) are - just as you described - working, but mostly dangerously unsafe.
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"What do you call alternative medicine that actually works?"
"Medicine!"
Sorry, had to add a joke... though the source of where I heard it has some debatable "science", the joke itself is funny when taken as a joke.
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Sounds like 'Storm' :)
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I freaking love Tim Minchin. Everything of his is brilliant, but I especially like Storm.
If you don't know what @reggaemuffin is on about, I implore you to watch this video:
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I have watched it before, though I have no problem with watching it again. The joke though has been said by many people and has similar phrasing to many famous quotes which is why I didn't state an origin.
And I agree, Tim Minchin is amazing!
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Yeah... I mean slight modification but still.
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Oh, my. I wish I could give that more than 100%. Bloody fucking awesome, and not just because of the uncomfortable resemblance to my grad-school mullet-and-skinny-tie look.
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While it is actually a funny joke, its notion actually false. It is only a very recent phenomenon in the entire history of humanity that our society became so reliant on pharmaceuticals. For many millennia , everything that is now considered 'alternative medicine' today was considered the standard medicinal protocol. Although many of these traditional treatments are still effective, and in some cases better than our 'conventional' medications, they are not considered 'medicine' by the pharmaceutical industrial complex. In fact, they may not be covered by insurance plans.
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For many hundreds of thousands of years our average life expectancy was half (at most) to what it is now and infant mortality rates (and child birth mortality rates) were astonishingly high compared to now.
I actually can't think of a single alt-medicine that is more effective than a conventional alternative (and before someone brings up colloidal silver, its not effective.) but I am happy to be enlightened
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Very interesting and eye-opening article. I believe in herbal medicine as I live in a place where medicines are very costly. But then, you opened me to a whole new perspective of trusting modern medicine and having a balanced view of herbal medicine.
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I completely agree how frustrating it can be to have a bunch of commenters blindly bash modern medicine when you see researchers putting so much effort into discovering new cures for diseases. Yeah natural remedies can be effective, but variability and lack of proper regulation are major concerns that often aren't addresses.
Obviously, the main exception is Pumpernickel, a panacea that cures all know disease, increases intelligence 100 fold, and confers immortality.
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I have done lots of researches on biologically active compounds and their antiparasic/antibacterial/antifungal effects. Even though some of these so called herbs seem more effective than the usual pharmaceutical drugs, the accumulation of some of the bioactive substances in the herbs could spell doom for the body in the long run. That is why I prefer to call it 'complementary medicines' instead of 'alternate medicines'.
However, I am of the opinion that researches into herbal medicines should always get the attention of the pharmaceutical bigwigs. Organisms keep evolving and developing resistance to drugs. If it will not be too early, I think a new strain of augmentin resistant Escherichia coli might be in town, but that will be for future discussion.
I have never been across any German food around here but given an option, I will take garlic bread over pumpernickel.
Enjoy!
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And yet, there are situations where complexity is a good thing. Antibiotic / chemotherapy / pesticide resistance, for instance. Much harder to become resistant to a complex cocktail of plant compounds than a single pure drug.
I'm convinced that the sensory qualities of herbs contribute to the conditioning of their active ingredients, though this would take a good bit of lab work to parse out the various contributions. Some background for this belief can be found in my IGMS column "The Placebo Files."
http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=columns&vol=randall_hayes&article=014
Also, pumpernickel, which has a complex mixture of flavors, much tastier and healthier than a refined white flour bread that spikes your blood sugar through the roof.
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As the sister of a qualified naturopath i thank my lucky stars that she believes in this as well. I think I'd have to stuff her mouth with pumpernickel if she started spouting big pharma conspiracy theories.
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There is a huge debate between herbal and modern medicine in my place too. Most of the arguments are centred on the side effects than the costs though. As someone who was under medication for a few years, I know side effects can be intolerable at times. Still better than poisoning yourself with the miracle herb growing on rooftiles I think :)
Pumpernickel please ;)
Am I the only person who thinks Atropa belladonna sounds kinda cool?
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Bella donna means beautiful woman, as women used eyedrops made from this plant to increase their pupil size
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I know that, I pay attention in pharma class y'know...at times ;)
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I like your style of writing, it is very clear-cut. Deadly nightshade and paclitaxel are indeed potentially life-threatening but medically useful plants. But this is my first time heard of colchicine for cancer treatment though, thank you for highlighting this. And, pumpernickel is a bread, am I correct?
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Yes, you are :)
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I think there is use for both medicine and herbs. For example if I have a simple cold I would try to cure it with herbal teas, vit C, echinacea, ginger. Same with stress - some chamomile or mint tea wold work perfectly! And of course for some serious illness people should seek medical help along with taking medicines. BTW what Pumpernickel has to do with herbs and medicine, isn't that a bread, just asking :-)
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It's bread, yes. Most random word I could think of.
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As both a STEM student and the son of a hippie herbalist, I've had to balance both sides of the debate for a long time now. There are a lot of effective herbal treatments, but there's also relatively little regulation or standardization of said herbal treatments, which can be problematic. (See homeopathy.) And there is a tendency of even the best herbalists to often buy into miraculous claims about their products. I think, frankly, that the rivalry has resulted in insufficient attention to many of the herbalists claims, which might be borne out- but, likewise, without said scientific attention, their claims aren't worth that much. I'm going to give more weight to the scientific claims, of course- as much sympathy as I have for the herbalists, it's clear who is more rigorous. Pumpernickel. I end up taking more herbal treatments than going to the doctor, though- because I'm poor and live in America, and poor people in America aren't allowed to see doctors. :D
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I think herbs and plants have a part to play in health for sure. Especially in the form of diet to prevent disease in the first place. That being said the science and chemistry is very interesting as it can show why plants have certain effects. I think somewhere in between is the sweet spot that we haven;t arrived at yet. Some plants have many chemicals that act in synergy. Some day I think pharmaceuticals might be 3d printed with many chemicals in one pill to address different issues in health unique to each person. Oh almost forgot, pumpernickle lol
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Hey! I dont have so much to comment about this article because I dont take much more medicines then a paracetamol. I think its good as always tough and I love to read your articles! I also wanted to suggest a topic for a new article! ( no not about pumpernickel) I would love to read an article about having a hangover and then im mostly interested why your voice sometimes is lower when you have one. Thanks!!
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It's been added to the "future topics" list
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Great!! Cant wait to read about it :)
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Pumpernickel, I got that out of the way. I actually don't trust most herbal remedies. Maybe, it's because of my background in biotech, or most likely, how many people have been harmed by believing in a herbal treatment?
I understand the distrust of the government and pharmaceutical companies. Thalidomidewas considered safe, but it's legacy shows it wasn't. There are many drugs that have made it to market with known side effects. I understand; this type of mistrust in big pharma.
I do think/know that some herbal remedies work. The problem is there is the assumption and cult like belief that there is a herbal remedy for every ailment. Even genius like Steve Jobs used herbal treatments for cancer. On the other hand, preventing disease using diet has a growing amount quantitive data backing it. There's more than enough proof for us to overhaul our ag-industry. I'm all for dietary prevention of diseases.
Thanks for posting, and I hope people heed your warning.
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Where I come from in Africa, herbal medicine has always been regarded as omnipotent for varieties of illnesses and infections.
I remember as a child, when my grandma comes to visit, she brings all kinds of herbal mixtures, leaves and barks which would then be diligently administered by my mum to every kid at home every morning ( and by God they were mighty bitter) claiming it "fortified" our bodies better than the medicine from abroad .
As a young science student, I often try to discourage the unchecked use of these nature's "all-powerful" gifts but was always shutdown by "no way the little ones can be smarter than the knowledge of the ancestors ".
This post has given me a better viewpoint which I can use to enlighten others on the dangers of unchecked use of herbal medicine.
Also, I would like to know your view on the recent claims that "Pumpernickel" slows down the aging process.
This was a very enlightening post @suesa.
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The whole Pumpernickel thing will spark a whole new type of conspiracy theory, I'm telling you :D
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I have used only Pumpernickel based medicines my entire life, and my good health is a testament to their effectiveness.
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I totally agree :-D
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I'd take commercial pills before any "herb supplements" for the reasons you stated (Pumpernickel). Mainly because: dosage.
But for streets drugs, I'd do the exact opposite :)
The problem is when pharmaceutics become a marketing ploy instead of a solid reputable establishment. (And granted, they might not have much of a choice in our current society)
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I don't have a long ass comment, only 1 word. PREACCHHHHHH!!!!
You hit a lot of good points but mostly agree with how hindering a "super healthy" mindset can be on researchers and that there are agreeable herbal treatments but it's an understanding of both plants and medicine, not one or the other that's worthwhile. Oh anddd btw pumpernickel
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Good article. I agree with most of what you said. But, there is a problem when researchers narrow an entire plant down to one molecule since plants often have multiple similar compounds that synergize which creates a stronger effect. So plant extracts may be the way to go since they can control the levels of the most potent compound and keep some of the synergizing chemicals too.
Secondly you mention the productz containing mercury/lead/arsenic but that is meaningless unless they noted the levels and whether the arsenic was inorganic or organic. Most foods have arsenic and other contaminants simply because it is in the ground but the levels are so low as to be safe.
Pumpernickel bagels!
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Last paragraph is highly amusing to me, as this isn't an argument an anti-vaxer would have brought, as they always complain about "mercury in vaccines"
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Thanks, I take that as a compliment! I'd rather have a little mercury instead of death/dismemberment.
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Thank you so much for taking the time to address this issue; I was considering taking it on myself, but have found myself emotionally exhausted after years of spinning my wheels against the conspiratorial crowds and quasi-spiritual neo-hippies. So, to see someone take a more objective stance on the matter is quite refreshing.
As a scientist it is also nice to see someone acknowledging that some herbal medicines have their place, but it is context specific, and that simply because something is natural does not make it benevolent or fantastic.
Too often I see scientists and science enthusiasts being obsessive and arrogant about anything being naturally derived and downplaying and validity or legitimacy to plants/fungi/fermented products only to tow a line they do not properly understand. It is as if they cannot bear to yield an inch of ground, and so are intellectually dishonest with themselves and others, while simultaneously accusing others of that very thing. To see a more reasoned stance portrayed in this article is a welcome change from false-dichotomies and finger pointing. Cheers!
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There can be several approaches to do a thing, I mean the right approaches just like several paths to reach a destination. So, of these paths could be more time taking but if time is not an issue for someone, that person can take this route. Very research based and information packed article. Sometimes, I wonder if there is a cure for quackery and then I realize that spammers can never be eliminated from Steemit. :)
Steem On!
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Most of the pharmaceutical companies are really in many ways following the healing cures of the past and of herbs and those things they have studied and then twisted and tweeked them packaged and resold for profit.
Then start lobbing that home remedies should be outlawed.
Lets take Penicillin... In order to get some it has to be a dr. that is prescribing it to you. From working in industry this is how it goes the plant that makes it fills orders that is it. So after the order is filled they just change the package and keep on packing the same pills. Fish and livestock penicillin is sold in a feed store. Same pill... Industry does the same thing with bread pumping out 2 loafs for a dollar and then just changes the bag with a fancy name on it at 1.49 a loaf.
I do agree that there are a lot of people working real hard to do the best they can in the drug industry but we would have never got to this place in time if our forefathers had not have had a good handle on medicine even more so in china.. I think health is more how you live vs the drugs you take...
Great Post thanks made me think a bit lol.
Oh and my mother in laws nickname is Pumpernickel.... 8 }
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Penicillin is derived from a fungus, not a plant :P
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I chose a bad example but it was in reference to how the pharmaceuticals are produced on a industrial scale ... 8 }
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Check out some of my blogs I think they will interest you!Check out some of my blogs and feel free to resteem and upvote!https://steemit.com/story/@corpdetoxbliss/does-the-human-emotion-worry-have-any-place-in-todays-world
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As a forager, all the medical claims that people put onto plants really bug me. So many folks give some long list of the medical uses of a plant, but they are just repeating what they read somewhere, without any actual experience or medical training. And quoting a journal article that a medically active compound has been found in a plant doesn't mean that the plant is medically useful. Often, folks follow up all their reporting with a giant caveat that they aren't medical professionals and are just relaying information. But it sets up expectations in people that plants can be substitutes for serious medicine. I prefer to focus on foraging for food, because we all eat, usually several times a day! So it's easier to build a base of actual experience.
There are some exceptions. For example, I know that the roots of Black Sampson (Echinacea angustifolia) are good for numbing toothache pain. It was great entertainment, as a kid in western Kansas, to get some other kid to put a chunk of the root in their mouth, up against their gums - or to do it myself. (Many times. There wasn't that much else going on out there in the grasslands.) In a few minutes, you can't feel anything. That said, I go to the dentist when I have a toothache!
FYI - The crocus in the image you are using is not the Colchicum plant you are writing about. It's not a pumpernickel, either. ; )
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shhhhh it was the first I found on pixabay :P I'll try to get a better pic.
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I only say that because the Crocus genus has some species prized for cooking, like Saffron (not Meadow Saffron, which is back to the toxic Colchicum. It's a good thing there are scientific names!). And there's so much misidentification on the internet, including Steemit. Just doin' my part to keep the botanicals straight! ; )
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I'm a molecular biologist, plant identification isn't my strength, so thanks :P I hope my new picture fits better?
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Now there's the Naked Ladies! :D (That's another common name for the Colchicum.) Thanks for putting out the effort to get the right image of that plant!
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How could I call myself a scientist if I don't at least try to correct my mistakes xD
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How could I call myself a scientist (in real life) if I don't point out mistakes, lol. ; ) It's all that peer review practice. I can't help myself!
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It's always a chance to learn. And I can train handling criticism before I have my first publication peer-reviewed!
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In some instances, the natural substances are preferable because they come with multiple components that work better together than in isolation.
Too bad that only works for food and fruits.
As you said, herbs are all or nothing and dosage is inherently unreliable, making the products of Western scientific tradition essentially superior for their stated purpose. On the other hand, I can't help thinking of some other products that became harmful superstimuli by being extracted in isolation and enhanced in concentration. Stuff like sugar (eating sugar cane? pretty much okay, great tropical snack. Eating cubes/spoonfuls of sugar? Terrible idea. Chewing the coca leaf? Nice little stimulant no worse than coffee. Chewing on cocaine? Catastrophic.)
It's a complex subject but in the end, I suspect it is difficult to argue with the efficacy, reliability and predictability of pills.
Oh yeah, pumpernickel has to the best of my knowledge no medicinal properties whatsoever.
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THANK YOU for this! For years I've heard how greed BigPharma is, but those offering herbal alternatives charge BIG $$ for their mangosteen juice (Xango) and how many other scammy "holistic" cures. If their bottled "natural" remedies are so good, sell them at drug stores instead of making people become 3-tier salesmen hawking the new "Better than Big Pharma" wonder cure.
*Pumpernickel? I'm gluten intolerant. Sauerkraut, I should eat. Meh! Dairy, All Grains (not just gluten), Sugar, Legumes - nightshade veggies - citrus - all inflammatory. Meh
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I am totally on the side of R&D Research and Development, which costs money, and
Quality Control - and who has time/space to grow all these herbs, harvest and store them, keep them on hand for who knows when they'll be needed...
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I truly appreciate your thoughtful and nuanced post suesa. You have an elegant and more importantly informed view about medicine and the research behind the scenes. You also discuss the topic with plants in mind, rather than just discussing the end product. This goes a long way to bridge the gap from ancient to modern medicines. Plants are still important sources of medicine, it’s just how we process the medicine that has changed.
It’s easy for some people to dismiss sciences they don’t understand. This is especially true for medicines, rather than surgery. When was the last time someone doubted a surgeon when told their appendix needs to be removed? Because medicine and vaccines have a less visible or tangible effect than say surgery, doubt can be inserted much easier. We see similar dismissal with climate science.
Great post suesa, I’m your pumpernickel!
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Wow! I used to have a theory that eating fruits and taking herbs in place of drugs are better than taking the modern medicines itself, the Post has made me to understand better though.. I will have to see my doctor for more prescription and advice. Thans so much for this post, I have learnt alot
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If i could pump a nickel into my bank every time I got advice about herbal medicines for my bad toe or my hayfever or sleeping pattern, I'd be a german millionaire by now! Thanks for the name drop =D
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There is so much misinformation online about natural remedies. I personally listen to my doctor. There are a lot of drug enthusiasts who think natural is better too even opium and Coca are natural
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Very nice post! I thought it's plants vs zombies the first seconds I saw the title :)
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I think this really a very recurring discussion and I think the best way to do things is to take the good out of both worlds.
Today, people take heavy medicine when they have a slight headache, will take antibacterial medicine when their nose runs and will take a painkiller when they hit their foot on the stairs.
While this is great to avoid every possible second of suffering, besides damaging our organs it will also, in the long term, reduce the effect of the named medicine when we really need it. That's basically why I try to fight a cold first with a tea or similar and then, only when it gets really bad, I go to the doctor.
Short I'd say "Alternative medicine is great when its nothing too serious or used complementary (If compatible of course)".
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Thanks for this well written post!
Plenty of people keeps telling dangerous stuff on the internet, sometimes it's harmless, like 'herbal medicin' that doesn't really contain any active ingredients, but more often it contains harmfull ingredients, or the advice itself to refrain from actual treatment can threaten life
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I never understood that obsession with the "Big Pharma". During the last 2 years, I spent exactly 2 Eur on medicine. My very ill grandma takes like 5 medicines constantly and it cost about 20 Eur/ month.
Transportation: about 50 - 100 Eur/month
Coffee or chocolate once a week: 10 - 20 Eur/month
Protein supplements: 20 - 30 Eur/month
Mobile phone: 15 - 20 Eur/month
What would people accept as the reasonable price for the medicine I wonder...?
And some data, about the investing in R&D from here
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I'm pretty sure, in mankind's history more people have died of herbs and their compounds than of pharmaceutically produced pills.
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Yeah @suesa. The struggle is real for scientist in my country too. Scientists pay their research money themselves with no aid from the government whatsoever. Back to the main topic, I totally agree both modern drugs and herb both have a role to play in modern/local societies. For example in my hometown there is an infection called "lapalapa". Herbs and native soap gets the edge over modern drugs. The main reason i believe is due to price tags. Synthetic drugs are much expensive and individuals believe since it is made in the lab. It often have negative side effect in the body.
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According to research roughly half the world's population lives on less than $2 per day. When you consider this fact, it is clearer to see why modern synthetic drugs is outta their reach so they believe it is only for the rich who can afford it.
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Thank you very very very much! As a person working in Pharma I am confronted with this topic very often, and I hate it! So I am glad to posted this nice breakdown and clarification so that people are able to have a less biased view... :)
Best,
mountain.phil28
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I just think that nothing is black and white.
If there is an herb that can make me feel better so why not.
But if there is a modern medicine that will do the work faster and sometimes help where herbs can't - yes I will go with that.
As I read in one of the comments each of them got a place in our lives - we don't need to choose between them but combine.
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Excellent post, I am a pharmacist and I work with patients with cancer on occasion, because they do not see immediate results on their disease, they choose to take plants that are recommended with others in the chemotherapy room, that is crazy some plants make their immune system is altered by lowering the normal levels of blood components, knows that the most important effect of chemotherapy is immunosuppression, if you take the floors that can cause leukocytes and plaques. die .... we must create awareness about self-medication, thank you.
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Synthesized medicine, and medical research is great when it is used a benefit to the patient, or to heal the patient. What we have in the United States is a disease management system/approach. There is often no moonshot for the cure, and if there is it seems to be repressed to benefit the system of medicine and the money that is circulated within that industry. It is hard to trust the PHARMA industry when you go to the doctor for help, and the medicine that they give you just gives you another disease(side effects).
In America it is not all the fault of BIG PHARMA. The food industry is partially to blame. A ton of diseases can be prevented and managed with our diets. Processed this, and processed that is killing us literally!
Ok that's enough I will step down from my soapbox!! Great article by the way!
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I guess from a German perspective, things are a lot different.
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I think Monsanto is banned in Germany right?
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Not that I knew. A quick Google search gives me two of their offices in Germany. But I guess it's differently regulated what they do.
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I think that Bayer bought Monsanto or they are about to buy Monsanto, so that may be why you found offices in Germany.
Monsanto create Genetically Modified Food. I think that corn may be their most popular gmo veggie!
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GMOs aren't necessarily bad tho
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Corn as we know it today didn't exist few centuries ago. I don't know what you call that. But there were definitely some genes modified.
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I am pretty sure that your food is of higher quality than ours!
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Okay. This is my second comment on your blog and I feel warm about you because we have some common interests and common complaints related to science and industry relationship
From the ancient times scientists were never rich or gain huge amount of money except some of them who get into industry but they also failed by other companies.
What I am trying to tell is society will never understand us (scientists) and we have to fight with those financial crap and also bigot minds.
Actually I noticed something when I was at university , we engineers or scientists can not gain money.. We are doing innovation, creation but the money goes to investors.
I feel so upset about it but the solution is taking our own rules and hiring the information by us.
INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE FREE. Because we are giving our lives to achieve in science. We deserve better. I deserve more money than Justin Bieber or Kim kardashian or pornstars. I am sorry if this is disrespectful but for me the only fact is I deserve better.
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A brave piece to write and also very balanced. I'm following you for more posts like this! Do keep them coming :-)
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I'm a Physician in my country, more precisely I'm a Urologist. In my field exists a lot of drugs for prostate and erectile dysfunction in commerce, all studied and well defined in safety and efficacy.
During last 20 years They came a lot of OTC Nutraceuticals ( this is the more scientific name was given to herbal treatment).
The fact is that also herbal treatment, in my opinion can have a role, but as you underlined in your post, we need to standardize it too. A nutraceuticals is a pill, with precise active principle coming from the herbs and plants that we know from the ancient cultures.
I.e Serenoa repens ( saw palmetto) has truly good effect on BPH ( benign prostatic hyperplasia) but with various studies was demonstrated that we need an average of at least ( and sometimes no more) 320 mg per day to see an effect.
So I would like to congratulate with your post, and underline that plants are good, but we need to use it in a scientific based way ( after an EBM trials maybe).
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do you take pills or call the herbs always and in this and there are side effects. but I prefer herbal if they can not do it then I go to the pharmacy.
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I try to only take pills when I need them. The art is to recognize that point. A good doctor can be useful for that.
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Very thought-provoking and eye-opening piece. I have faith in in herbal medicine as I live in a place where medications are very expensive. Your post show me new viewpoint
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hi there i agreed with u by the way :) here is my new blog about heath and fitness @aaqibrasheed thanks !
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I love this!
If you belive in your own medicine it will almost always work and i love the use of safe fresh herbs
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Awesome read! Thank you very much! =]
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AMAAAAZING!!!! Regards
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What exactly?
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It's amazing how you capture both sides of medicine and how they influence everyone's life. Upvote 4u and GL
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Good Post. Nature gave us everything but man expects something more.In this process we are damaging the nature plants and running for pharmaceuticals.very sad.
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Not what this post is saying
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This was very insightful. Is there a way to tell which drugs have less "filler" and are closer to a natural state?
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Well, the "filler" is usually there to make the pills easier to swallow (applies to most drugs). So ... I'm not sure how to find out, aside from reading what exactly is in the pills.
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Ok, thank you.
I forgot to mention pumpernickel in my original comment, is it to late? Haha
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Health is so important, being able to correctly treat various symptoms can help people recover from illnesses or diseases.
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Pharmaceutical and all natural remedies has their pros and cons. It can be used hand in hand for a better human life. Monopoly is one of the problems cos it is such a profitable market for medicine.
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When I think of Pumpernickel - yes, I think of caraway. But my favorite herbs are nettles, horsetail, siberian ginseng and fo-ti.
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Awsome post suesa! I love vitamin C
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Not the content of this post at all.
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Hi Suesa I suffer with asthma do you have any advice what I could use herbal to help with it must appreciated : )
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No, sorry
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Thank you Suesa! I will go to my local herbal shop in Birmingham UK and ask!, Did you like my last art post "indiffrence" what you think ? great to get your interpretion! : )
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There are many unwarranted assumptions in this statement. It seems to be implying that herbs are inherently more safe, less toxic, and more healthful than pharmaceuticals. It also assumes that there is a real difference between the two. Therefore Kilham seems to be saying something meaningful when he is actually just reflecting biased assumptions. This is made clear if we simply reverse his statement. @suesa
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Neither is 100% safe, each comes with risks.
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True.. @suesa
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I see your logic - You write thoroughly, comprehensively, & better than some of the #STEEMIT bloggers (tho there are certainly arguments for both sides, I appreciate some of your pts ) -- for example, when you explained, "But we’re talking about herbal cures here, you don’t get isolated substances! All or nothing!" ..
Yes that DOES make sense ♦♦ You actually helped to provide me with a more balanced viewpoint !
As for me, I believe in #alternative #medicines, but also I believe in taking care of oneself by getting enough rest, and getting a massage to RELIEVE #STRESS (Meditation I do as well).
I can certainly see that there is a 2nd viewpoint -- and that w/ Cancer, a person may well have to lean toward Pharmaceuticals... to get a potent enough (and proper) Dose .
Of course, if a person can do things like drink green tea, take certain quality supplements, & eat well (REAL food w/ No additives, colorings, or fillers) -- then hopefully, that person won't get the BIG C.
Luck to All.
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pumpernickel
yes dear some chronic diseases easily cured by herbs but for acute diseases pharmaceuticals are quite effective because where we required quick relief and herbs can not provide quick relief.
With the help of african herbs which is found in tribal areas of afrika, doctors of all india insitute of medicine sciences[AIIMS] have prepared a drug which decreases the gat biologically , its means for reducing your fat you dont have to workout, you can do it by taking that drug.
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I mean absolutely no disrespect. That said, you should do more research into how much harm the pharma industry inflicts. 100,000 per year die from opioids alone, killing our vital organs such as livers and stomachs, designed to get you addicted. That's a million per decade, genocidal proportions. And it is, genocide of the foolish peasants by the all-knowing, all-powerful elite. Then they have the anti-psychotics and psychiatric drugs which are zombifying our people across the globe, targeting our minds and souls and is directly connected to all these mass shootings... And you want to demonize plants? When it comes to cancer? Gerson Therapy is an all natural approach to cancer treatment based on coffee enemas, pancreatic and digestive enzymes, juicing, and optimizing your micronutrients. Developed nearly a hundred years ago! You're crying for research and funding into cancer but it does not require it while billions go into treatments that DO NOT WORK. Gerson therapy is more effective and is inexpensive, so please see what those billions of dollars are really meant for. Pharma controls the media and influence our law and policy! At least people in my country, America, need to stop taking so many poisonous synthetics, stop listening to the media, stop taking flu shots, and eat more plants. You can note instances of chinese companies or toxic plants, but the real conversation is the corporate governmental powers brainwashing the population into thinking synthetic chemicals can do anything but poison rather than the seeds, plants, roots, mushrooms, animals, and fruits that God gave us to thrive on and be happy. Namaste <3
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I've seen the documentary on doctors overprescribing opioids.
"Pharmageddon" - the book on ADHD over Dx'd, the drugs over Rx'd
Yes, there are abuses. Just as there are good cops and bad cops, but we do not get rid of all cops because some abuse their power, go corrupt, harm others.
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I'm not disputing you, @newtreehints.
And I'm a great fan/advocate of trees. (Don't get me started on garlic mustard.)
Just saying... Hey, I've heard of #GersonTherapy via @mariannewest
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Pharmaceuticals have there place, I agree. With the right knowledge and caution. But the balance of using timely, NECESSARY pharmaceuticals has long past. Now we have seniors on 4+ pharmaceuticals at a time... Truly despicable. Its the scientific global elite medical cartel that pump vaccines, flu shots, OTC's, opioids, antipsychotics, psych-meds, useless poisonous cancer therapies into us and then ally with tobacco and alcohol to keep marijuana illegal. Yet the author of this article wants to paint all researcher and doctors as underfunded, good hearted saints doing all they can. No, they're murdering us with chemicals... Flouride, chemtrails, pesticides, GMO's, pharmaceuticals, sanctioned drugs, "FOOD".... Then they weaken us spiritually and destroy our families with welfare, public schools, Hollywood and pop-culture... Wake up, people! Still I appreciate your open-minded sentiments, Carol. It's just that I believe we're at a crossroads or it might even be too late to save ourselves from the "bad cops" :) Namaste! <3
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Tell me how do you treat an 80 year old with refractory hypertension, diabetes and addisons disease WITHOUT 4+ medications... crush up some garlic and tumeric and then let her die smelling bad?
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The moment you tell someone to " do more research" then follow up with the term "big pharma" you've pretty much lost all credibility. You might have lurked in a few dark corners of the internet or watched some documentaries with people wearing guy fawkes masks, but at the end of the day this thinking is just based on nothing.
All medical treatment has side effects and risks. You try being in the position of a doctor who wants to relieve chronic pain.
There is no all-knowing all-powerful elite.
There are pricks in politics, but in medicine there are just scientists and doctors trying to o their best.
I mean look at this Gerson therapy of yours has NO evidence to back it up! Do you realise why we moved away from stuff like this 200 years ago was to save lives, instead of pumping profits into treatments that people 'thought' worked. Do you understand 'evidence based' science. Do you really think you've figured out some grand conspiracy that every doctor, mecial student, nurse, pharmacist and scientist on the planet can't get their heads around.
Seriousely, get real. This stuff is junk. Modern medicine is not perfect, but it's the best we've got. Instead of being part of the problem try and be part of the solution.
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Well, I was completely respectful and wasn't condescending at all, UNLIKE yourself. You took all those words to just say "you're wrong", criticized me for providing no evidence for my claims, then proceeded to provide no evidence for your claims. Great argument, by the way. Firstly, it's called hyperbole, to a degree sarcasm, when I say these all-knowing, all-powerful elites. Do I really think they're that powerful and knowledgeable? No. But they do. The scientific medical cartel is responsible for manipulating corporations and governments to push their number one priority globally: profit. Whether its the rounds of vaccines they OBLIGATE your children to absorb, the toxic pharmaceuticals, geo-engineering fallout from chem-trails, fluoridated water or a tainted food supply we can thank the scientific elite, technocrats, and medical cartel. Why do you think that chronic disease and illnesses in all categories are on the rise unceasingly for decades? Why is the American life expectancy decreasing? Is it despite the reliance on chemical synthetics and environmental toxins or because of it? For someone who's criticizing another for not doing their research and for telling others to do more research, have you ever considered the word hypocrite? It takes a quick internet search to find a reputable, controlled study that proves not only the efficacy of Gerson Therapy but also in comparison to conventional treatments.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9359807
As you said there is "NO evidence to back it up"... ALSO, Gerson Therapy is not 200 years old. It's more successful than traditional and conventional approaches and doctors around the world use it, with increased rates of success in stage 3 and 4 versus traditional methods, and not just the actual Gerson Institutes in Tijuana and San Diego. So please "do your research" before you spew disinformation in a rudely manner and make yourself look even less credible or lazy when speaking on "big pharma". But thanks for letting me know there are pricks in politics, wasn't sure about that one. Namaste <3
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I don't trust most pharmaceuticals as far as being better than natural treatment, most are either nothing or bareluy beneficial with side effect. There are quite a few that have great use with the state of health that we are in though.
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I enjoy that view and must say that I am thankful that you aren't diabetic, asthmatic, or severely allergic to anything... Cause otherwise you would really need the pharmaceuticals.
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You're my hero :'D
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I did say there were quite a few that had great use.... don't ignore part of my comment please. I'm dating a pharmacist, I don't think they are terrible, just that the market is saturated and that some of them are produced to cover up symptoms rather than fix them. Everything has some use, it's whether we use them correctly. I don't believe herbal treatments are the end all be all either. My wording here was a bit off, sorry for that.
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Have you read this post?
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Ya, I just responded with poor wording that didn't add to the post well, I will have to watch that, I didn't mean for the comment to be taken the way it was
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this is realy awesome! GL
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I do love this article!!It's so useful and helpful opening my mind regarding the natural medication and big industry of medicine. Just upvote and resteem it!!!
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I live in China and herbal medicine is much more popular than western medicine at first I wasn't a fan but now I prefer it =]
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This is great , I hardly do the pills to and I prefers the local herbs most times cus am a kind of person these is scared of pills ,I even hide or throw them a way when my mom gives me a lot to take each time am sick
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Both herbs and pharmaceuticals have their important role.I am from Africa and many people do take herbs and they work well,I recently suffered from cough,I only kept taking honey and I was perfectly healed.
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Thank you @suesa for sharing. Here is a previous comment I made on one of your blog post titled why promising doesn't mean cure;
"hope no one laughs at what an about to say @suesa, in Nigeria one of the traditional methods of curing malaria is like this. They get some roots and herbs that probably contains what is in processed drugs. They would put these herbs and roots into a big pot and when it begins to boil bringing out steem, they would then put the person close to the steem from the boiling herbs (with his cloths off) and enclosed both the person and the boiling herb. When the person comes out, before the next 24hrs, the person begins to gain massive recovery. My guess is that the steem containing what ever chemical that kills malaria passes through the sweat pores in the body to get inside. Probably same can be applied to the cancer and lemon. Forgive me if I make no sense am an engineer and not a biochemist. Loved your post-cheers"
To today's post, in Nigeria we don't have any food grown in the lab, but for larger profits and consumption, some seed which has undergone some genetic modifications and when they are harvested, they are always different from the original species. Recently, many persons have began to go back to roots and herbs in Nigeria. Thanks for sharing -cheers
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I didn't reply to the previous comment because without any knowledge about what exact plants are used, I can't even make an educated guess.
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Oh that's true I also don't know the botanical name of the tree, but it is Popularly call dogoyaro it is a very tall tree. Will try to find out its botanical name and get back to you. Thanks
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Today I have visited to my senior's house who died. He died caused of a lymph tumor. In my country: Indonesia, most people still believe in and prefer to choose traditional medicines and herbs instead of doctors. I regret this happened to her,
Thank in advance madam Suesa for sharing this information
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That's sad to hear. There are two common types of this cancer, Morbus Hodgkin and non- Hodgkin. The first one can be cured in over 90% of cases with chemotherapy. I'm sorry your friend wasn't cured :/
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Thank you very much..
ya, unfornately she rejected any cured from doctor madam @suesa and prefer traditional
i regretted and sad about this
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Hi,
Herbal medicines play a very important role here in India. The place where people still believe in orthodox medical principles, getting herbal medicines is their first priority.
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Very nice post!
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I believe that God endowed us with natural wonders, nature is spectacular in my house I have many plants and I always take natural infusions such as ginger, honey and sabila.
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Well because we have nutritional deficiencies from nature not drug deficiencies from science;)
#truthtrain
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Firstly, Pumpernickel . :)
I read your post and I quite agree with your submission. Plants are of essence to human. These have served as a good source in treating many diseases. Isolation of active principle in plants have been a major research focus over the years. This has been studied at all levels of education with many Professors retiring with patents for Isolates from plants.
We have to take herbs when we can, but also, considering that this might contain toxic compunds or element. Best of all is to have a good checkup by a professional medical practictional.
Isolating has also build up the medical
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Copying this part into a comment kind of defeats the purpose :/
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Well, it was quoted. I dont think anything is wrong with that.
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You don't get the point. People are supposed to read it in the text, not a comment. It's a small confirmation they took the time to fully read what I wrote. Now they can just read your comment.
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Correct friend the medicinal plants are going to be always healthier than those medicines that they sell in order to make money for them and many of those medicines have addictive drugs like sleeping relaxers, good post
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Congratulations on either not reading or not understanding the post.
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Plants are life!!!
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Would always prefer herbs than pills if could manage to get it.
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Wonderful post educating the Steemers.steemon
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We need more people like you @suesa, a voice of reason! Oh right.. pumpernickel!
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I take a generic version of zoloft and I have been thinking of alternative treatments. Your post really through fuel on that fire.
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I think that naturopathic medicines are more effective than pharmaceuticals. They are cheaper and easier to acquire and you will always be putting natural things in your body which will help to improve our problem more effectively.
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Flagged for fallacy :) if trees have steem accounts, they would flag this
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Good job! Thanks to @bachuslib you have planted 0.05 tree to save Abongphen Highland Forest in Cameroon. Help me to plant 1,000,000 trees and share my Steem Power to the others. Selfvoting is prohibited, but that should be the reason to spread the world to protect our precious environment. Check out profile of our conservation association @kedjom-keku and the founder/coordinator @martin.mikes to get more information about our conservation program. My current SP is 14490.49. Help me to plant more trees with your delegated SP.
Thanks a lot,
your @treeplanter
www.kedjom-keku.com
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Oh I love this, perfect opportunity @bachuslib!
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Please send me a publication where "science says" that
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Check and mate
http://dlc.dlib.indiana.edu/dlc/bitstream/handle/10535/8426/Medicine%20trees%20of%20the%20Tropics.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
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:P
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Cool post. inspired read. I very2 like ❤
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@suesa that was a great article.as i am a doctor i would prefer medicines though .haha.
looking forward for your next post
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