Herbal Medicines and Other Natural Products

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Herbal Medicines and Other Natural Products

The rising costs of healthcare and pharmacological drugs, and the side effects associated with the use of conventional drugs, have compelled people to look for other alternatives of managing and treating their ailments. People have become more receptive to herbal medicines, and the use of natural products to cure and manage diseases. Herbal medicines and other natural products are considered, cheaper, safer and milder, albeit mostly bitter, than conventional medicines. However, this is not always the case. The government has banned the use of some herbs because of their dangerous effects on the body. Some of them are more expensive than conventional medicine because they are scarce and are not found locally. Some of them can be harsh, especially on the taste buds. It is important to research on the type of herbal medicine to use, before deciding to use it. In most cases, especially when dealing with chronic diseases and conditions, herbal medicines should be used together with the conventional medicines, to enhance their effectiveness. As research on herbal medicines and natural products increases, doctors, other health practitioners, and the public have become more receptive, and they have accepted their use.

Natural products in complementary and alternative medicine refer to any medicine from natural sources such as animals and plants (Cuellar, 2006). Herbal medicines on the other hand, refer exclusively to medicine that is derived from plants. Different parts of a plant such as the leaves, seeds, roots, barks, and flowers have medicinal properties. They can be taken when they are fresh, or they can be dried and powdered to make teas, infusions and extracts. Many people are concerned about the safety of using herbal medications. Herbal medicines can reduce or enhance the effectiveness of conventional medicines. Some herbs interact with other drugs and decrease their effectiveness. Some of the interactions can lead to disastrous effects, as it can have a negative effect on the patient’s health, and affect the patient’s condition (Cuellar, 2006). Safety is therefore a major concern when using herbal medicines and natural products. Just because herbs are derived from plants, does not make them safer. Some people are wary of using herbal and natural medicines because of safety concerns. They are worried because they are not sure of how the medications are prepared. Some people prefer to prepare the products themselves, but most people prefer to use products that have been commercially prepared and standardized. Many herbalists prefer using products that have not been processed. Since people have begun to accept and use herbal medicines, it has become increasingly important to standardize the products for health and safety reasons.

Of all complementary and alternative medicine systems, herbal medicines and natural products have been used for the longest time. People use herbal medicines because they consider them safer and better than conventional medicine (Pal and Shukla, 2006). People have used different plants, leaves, and other natural products to cure, manage, and treat disease. Many of the uses of herbal medicine have been passed down through generations. Indigenous tribes and cultures recognized the importance of using herbal medicines in healing. They used the herbs in their natural form as it was more effective, and they did not have the necessary technology to develop and process the medicines. Although many Asian, European, and African countries have used medicines from herbs and other natural products for a long time, many Americans have been reluctant to do so. This might be because of the relative ease of using conventional medicines, and the fact that the conventional medicines are readily available. Advocates of conventional medicine have been reluctant to accept, use, and recommend medicines from herbs and other natural products for a long time, mostly because it lacked scientific evidence. However, this is changing, as more people use scientific research to prove or disapprove the effectiveness of herbal and natural products. Researchers and scientists have shown that there is a basis to the facts passed on concerning the effectiveness of herbal products (Pal & Shukla, 2006).

Diabetes is one of the most common lifestyle diseases, and it has affected more people in recent times. It is a metabolism disorder, and it affects the way the body digests the food. A person with diabetes has elevated glucose levels because he or she might not have any insulin in the body, or the body might not produce enough insulin. There are three types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the person does not produce any insulin. A person who has type2 diabetes does not have enough insulin in the body, or the insulin present might not be working properly. In some cases, some people might develop diabetes when they are pregnant, and the condition disappears when she gives birth. Some of the symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, increased and unusual thirst, blurred vision, loss of weight, increased irritability and mood swings, and extreme hunger among others. When examining a disease, herbalists tend to look at its history. Diabetes was not a common disease. It has mostly been associated with lifestyle changes, especially where food, nutrition, and activity are concerned. Herbalists want to know why the disease became more prevalent after civilization. People in the past did not suffer from diabetes. They had a different diet. They ate different kinds of food, and they prepared them differently. Food was not refined to the extent that it is today. It contained more fruits, vegetables, herbs, grains, and other unrefined foods. Although technology has improved people’s lives today, it also has some disadvantages. People were more active physically. They had to work hard and walk for long distances, because there were few machines to help them work, and there were fewer cars.

There are different cultural perspectives that affect the diagnoses and treatment of diabetes. Many people identify herbs by their local names, and this can be challenging to the people who are not familiar with the language. Some herbs are prevalent in one region, and they may be unheard of in another region. Practitioners from different cultures have different methods of mixing and measuring the drugs to use. They use different factors when deciding the medication measurements to use. The health practitioner and the patient may not understand each other because of cultural barriers, and this can be a problem. Practitioners use different methods to cure the disease, according to the type of the disease. Type1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which there is a continuous destruction of the pancreas, and this affects insulin production. Many herbalists will concentrate of controlling the blood sugar, and reducing diabetes complications that affect different body organs such as the eyes and kidneys. In type 2 diabetes, herbalists focus on improving the metabolism of blood sugar, reducing the blood sugar levels, reducing long term complications, and improving body sensitivity to insulin (). They can use medications that mimic insulin action in the body, or they can use medications that act on the cells that produce insulin. Practitioners can use medication which modify the way the glucose is utilized in the body, or they can use mix a variety of herbs in the body that reduce the glucose levels in the blood (Wadkar et al., 2007). Some herbs and plant products mimic insulin effect in the body. For instance, cinnamon has insulin-enhancing properties (Mang et al., 2006).

Despite the fact that many people have come to accept the use of herbs and other natural medications in the treatment and management of diabetes, others are skeptical, and they are not convinced of their effectiveness. They may have questions regarding the methods and the products that are used in curing the condition. This is especially the case with patients who have diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition and failure to treat and manage it well may be fatal. Patients may be concerned about the safety of the products. They may want to know whether there are any side effects of using the products, because although the products are natural, they may not necessarily be mild. A patient may want to know whether there is any person who has used the treatment before, and how he or she benefited. Some patients may also be concerned about the costs of using the treatment. They may be concerned that they may not get the products recommended easily. Health practitioners on the other hand may want to know whether there is any scientific evidence to suggest that the treatment works. They may want to see documented studies from well-known scholars, and peer-review articles.

Traditional Chinese medicine can be used in the management and treatment of diabetes. The Chinese view the body system as a whole, and if one part of the body is sick, they will tend to view it in relation to the whole body. They will examine the psychological and physical factors that might be causing disharmony in the body. They believe that health is restored when the body is in harmony and balance with nature. The Chinese use the yin yang theory and the five elements theory to treat diseases. In the five elements theory, each of the elements is associated with a body organ. Wood is associated with the liver, fire with the heart, earth with the spleen, pancreas and stomach, metal with the lungs, and water with the kidneys (Covington, 2001). When diagnosing a patient, the practitioner will look at various factors such as body and breath order, shape and color of the tongue, facial expression and color, and the pulse. In Chinese traditional medicine, there are three classifications of diabetes, which are characterized by the symptoms. The upper classification is characterized by thirst, the middle classification is characterized by hunger, and the lower classification is characterized by excessive urination (Covington, 2001). I would use Chinese traditional medicine because of its effectiveness. Dividing the diabetes into three classifications enables the practitioner to know which category to target. I would also use it because the practitioner does not need to monitor the client’s glucose levels all the time. This allows the client to have enough time for healing, and the client does not have to be worried about the increasing glucose levels every time he or she visits the clinic.

Biofeedback, as a type of complementary medication refers to the technique of improving health by controlling processes such as heart rate and muscle tension. A biofeedback therapist can use electromyography, thermal biofeedback or, electroencephalography techniques depending on the condition that is being treated. Biofeedback is especially helpful in stress management. Stress is one of the major triggers of diabetes. Biofeedback can be used to control the blood glucose. It can also be used to manage and control long-term complications associated with biofeedback such as peripheral neuropathy. After using biofeedback, patients with diabetics experience relief from neuropathic pain because of increased blood flow. Biofeedback is especially useful in releasing facial tension, and it relaxes the skeletal muscles. Diabetic patients who use biofeedback are able to reduce their anxiety and depression, and this lowers the blood glucose (McGrady, 2010). I would use the biofeedback technique because it targets one of the core triggers of diabetes, and identifies ways of dealing with it. It is useful in eliminating at least one factor that can worsen diabetes.

Herbal and natural products are effective in the treatment and management of some diseases, if they are used properly. Different cultures have different methods of using herbal medicine. Diabetes is a lifestyle disease, and knowing the origin will enable people to know how to treat it. Researchers should ensure that they conduct scientific research, illustrating the effectiveness of these products. Scientific research will also enable health practitioners to offer better alternative treatments to their clients, and it will improve the safety of these medications.

References:

Cuellar, G. N. (2006). Conversations in complementary and alternative medicine: Insights and perspectives from leading practitioners. Sudbury, MA: ones and Bartlett

Covington, B. M. (2001). Traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of diabetes. Diabetes Spectrum, 14 (3), 154-159

Mang, B., Wolters, M., Schmitt, B., Kelb, K., Lichtinghagen, R., Stitchtenoth, O. D., & Hahn, A. (2006). Effects of a cinnamon extract on plasma glucose, glucose, HbA1c, and serum lipids in diabetes mellitus type 2. European Journal of Clinical Investigation 36, 340-344

McGrady, A. (2010). The effects of biofeedback in diabetes 2 and essential hypertension. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine 77.

Pal, K. S., & Shukla, Y. (2003). Herbal medicine: current status and the future. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 4, 281-289

Wadkar, K. A., Magdum, C. S., Patil, S. S., & Naikwade, S. N. (2008). Anti-diabetic potential and Indian medicinal plants. Journal of Herbal Medicine and Toxicology 2, (1), 45-50