Are herbalists a good alternative to doctors or are they a hoax?

Answer 1

im an herbalist...no they are not a hoax..they are not for emergencies but good for health maintenance. Herbs were around long before drugs

Answer 2

It can be hit and miss! And a good herbalist will tell you the limitations of their expertise. Recently my girlfriend went to a master herbalist to treat a worsening condition, and with another herbalist they came up with two entirely wrong diagnosis using the reading of the iris, etc. The herbs they prescribed actually would have drained what little strength she had from the ,,,easily ,,,diagnosed mono found quickly by her medical doctor. Ahem! Be careful in using their information and while they can be generally quite helpful in areas, in serious matters don't make the mistake my friend did and find out their means are far, far behind some simple tools of modern science.

Answer 3

Would you be suspcious of someone who said they could cure your toothache with gravy? Then you are right to be skeptical of someone who claims to be able to treat disease with herbs and roots.

The truth about sickness & disease is that a lot of it cures itself. Unfortunately this means there are people out there with a nasty rash that went away the day after they ate some Natural Ponsian bogwart tablets fortified with extract of nincompoop, and those people will SWEAR to you that's what fixed it.

Many herbs do contain active drug compounds that might have some pharmaceutical impact, but since they are completely unregulated, they're more likely to be ineffective, contaminated, or worthless.

It's your body, though. If you'd rather trust it to a hippie with a two-month mail-order diploma than a trained doctor with years of college, that's your right!

Good luck!

Answer 4

I think so. In fact I prefer the alternative medicine, homeopathic or whatever is natural vs. regular medication because for the most part these don't have side effects as opposed to western medicine. From personal experience, I've tried and gotten great results you just have to try and choose to go to someone who has been recommended to you rather than choosing out of a hat, per say.

Answer 5

Herbs are known to treat patients since old days in Tibet, India China and all of Asia. Later modern medicine made chemicals out of labs and some are extracted from plants. For example quinine is a plant and it cures malaria. Morphine is from plant. I am from Asia and my grandmother had this herbal mixture still very popular today in her town. It is a mixture of 48 kinds of plants and very bitter. I still take it although I am a medical doctor for indigestion, nausea , anxiety , menstraul colic or any minor illnesses and it is very useful. I will only take modern day medicines when it become serious. Almost all the population in Burma take herbal products at home. They are supposed to cleanse your blood and keep you healthy and in harmony with life.

Answer 6

Herbalists can be a great resource to complement your family physician. As always, you should research your choices and educate yourself. Most professionals in the medical community recognize Complementary and Alternative Medicines as a legitimate medical resource. Here are some links to get you started:

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/

http://ods.od.nih.gov/Health_Information/Health_Information.aspx

http://www.herbalgram.org/

http://www.aafp.org/fpm/20010300/37comp.html

Answer 7

My family, going back as far as we can, have never used Western medicine. I have only ever seen an Asian doctor for Eastern medicine. I have only been sick a few times in my life. I drink a tea made of a blend of herbs every day and I'd consider myself to be in excellent shape.

Answer 8

Well i do not know for myself but my sister has lupus and she goes to both a MD and a herbalists. Herbs are very strong just like prescriptions, so you have to be careful. check out the Internet.

Answer 9

herbs are not a hoax they were used to heal people prior to conventional medicine. make sure you know the training your herbalist has had and ask them about their practice prior to visiting them...just as you would a doctor

Answer 10

Some herbalists are good and some arre not so good. See site below for more info.