Herbal Remedies:
A Natural Alternative

 

Herbal remedies can be a good natural alternative to some pharmaceutical drugs. Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic doctor practicing in Mesa, Arizona. Other East Valley cities she serves are Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, and the greater Phoenix area.

 

Herbal remedies and natural or botanical medicines can be found in the aisles of almost any major supermarket these days. As the public interest and awareness about alternative and natural therapies grows, more and more people are seeking natural alternatives to pharmaceutical drugs -- both prescription and over-the-counter, including the use of herbal teas.

The reasons for this interest in botanical medicines are many, but a few of the chief ones are the expense of prescription drugs, concerns about side effects, and the desire for a more natural approach to health and healing.

Many of the drugs we consume today originate from plants, but they have been altered in the lab to become more potent than in their original states. For instance, over-the-counter aspirin is derived from a tree bark called willow bark (salix). Also, the popular heart medication digoxin (lanoxin) is derived from the leaves of a plant called foxglove digitalis purpurea. (The use of the crude herb foxglove is almost nonexistent because it is a toxic herb and an overdose can be lethal.)

Pharmaceuticals have proven to be both a blessing and a curse to our modern society. The idea of taking a drug that can provide us with a "quick fix" for what ails us (a sleeping pill or pain medication, for instance) is certainly appealing. On the other hand, the more unnatural substances we introduce into our bodies, the more toxins we build up and the more side effects we may see. Often, there are herbal remedies (natural plant medicines) that can serve as alternatives to drugs that can accomplish the same healing objectives without the expense and danger of side effects pharmaceuticals may present.

Dr. Marcantel is well-versed in both pharmaceuticals and botanical medicines. With her background in both allopathic and naturopathic medicine, she has seen the benefits and drawbacks of all types of medicines, both synthetic and natural. It is her goal to work with her patients to provide them whatever medications are most effective with the least amount of potential side effects.

It is often possible to introduce natural plant medicines to a patient that will gradually lessen her dependence on certain pharmaceutical drugs. In doing this, it is extremely important to be aware of any potential interactions among the various medications being taken and to keep the patient's primary care physician apprised of all the botanicals being introduced into the treatment program. Read Dr. Marcantel's article "Herbal Remedies: What Every Consumer Should Know."

 

For more information about botanical medicines, see the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine page on Dietary and Herbal Supplements. (It will open in a new window.)

 

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