Suddenly the benefit of herbal remedies is being
rediscovered! It is a tidal wave that is sweeping the entire world, even in the
citadels of scientific medicine the story is the same. From country to country
shealth. Herbal books are bestseller any day around the world. From Maria
Treben’s European bestseller, health’s
through God’s pharmacy to our own Elizabeth Kafaru’s immense help from nature’s
workshop. The knowing ones among orthodox medical practitioners are also
embracing herbs to help suffering humanity in curing the so-called incurable
diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. The tide is unstoppable.
In a recent issue of commonwealth currents, a
magazine of Commonwealth Secretariat, London
there is the following report entitled “making
the best of herbs”.
“Around the world, the demand for plant-based
medicine and cosmetics, as well health food products, is increasing rapidly. As
consumers become wary of modern chemicals and their side effects more and more
people are turning to alternate forms of medicines. By the early part of next
century, industry analysts predict that the worldwide herbal medicine sector,
currently valued at US$8bilion, will rival that of the pharmaceutical industry
in importance”. The
report went onto say how the Indian Government is eager to make best of its
comparative advantage in herbal medicine, and how the Commonwealth Fund for
Technical Cooperation (CFTC) is set to assist India in developing and expanding
its export and marketing of herbal medicines, which at present stand over at
US$13million and growing at an annual rate of 7%. The report has the following
statistics of herbal use:
“European consumers each spent five pounds
sterling on average on herbal remedies in1994, generating over two billion
pound sterling at retail sterling prices. About three quarters of this was
accounted for by the German consumers, who each spent over eighteen pound
sterling on herbal medicines. Danish consumers ran a close second, each
consuming over twelve pounds sterling worth of herbal medicines”.
This report shows not only the health importance but also the growing economic
importance of herbal remedies.
The reason is not far to seek. Human beings on earth
are responding to a new compulsion to that which is natural. People are daily
discovering the ill effect of separation from nature and there is a growing
awareness that solution to the problems of human life on earth lies in going
back to the nature. This is especially so where it concerns the health of the
body which itself is part of nature. Herbal remedies are best for our bodies’
ailments. As a grateful user of herbs for radiant health I am convinced that
herbal remedies are superior to chemical drugs. Experts have confirmed that
there is no chemical drug without side effects. This coupled with the growing
incidence of drug resistance of many pathogens calls for a new approach to
health. Merciful herbs have come to the rescue. There is no question of side
effects or resistance where herbs are concerned. Herbs are vegetables and are
as safe as the vegetable in the soup pot. Herbal remedies do not tolerate
resistance of pathogens, because herbs act in a holistic manner to purify the
blood and make it impossible for disease pathogen to gain foothold. Herbs act
to restore immunity and to normalize the metabolic rates, and strengthen the
organs for optimum functioning.
Medicinal herbs also nourish the body because they contain their own
compliment of micro-nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Individuals who
have made herbs their road to radiant health can testify to these benefits.
These huge benefits of herbal remedies
notwithstanding, some problems need to be tackled if more and more people are
to take herbal remedies. First is the problem of availability. In recent BBC
radio programmed a scientist was interviewed on the recently discovered cure
for cancer in the African Bush Willow Tree. The scientist was asked how much of
the willow tree all over the place in order to get enough to help the teeming
cancer patients all over the world. He said what the scientists are doing is to
isolate the active ingredient in the willow tree and chemically copy it in the
laboratory to make the drug available. It dawn on me that even though herbal
remedies are superior to chemically synthesize drugs, availability of the herbs
is a real threat to its wholesale adoption by many people. For one thing all
the medicinal herbs are not uniform available everywhere for those who need
them to obtain them easily. This or that herbs may be peculiar to this or that
geographical area.
To solve this problem my friends and I who are
grateful users of radiant health have formed a sort of network to exchange
herbs from each other’s area. In this way I receive herbs which are common in
say Agege, Ikorodu, and in Ogun state from my friend in these areas, while I send
them herbs that are available in my area. In this way each one in the network
is able to share with our friends, neighbors, and colleagues. And so to be able
to extend this available and spread the benefit of medicinal herbs far and wide
we have formed a body known as SFE friend of the earth international. We also
help each other and other interested individuals to identify medicinal herbs.
These are usually herb that have been described in herbal books and which we
have come to know and use regularly. Other interested individual s can form a
network for themselves to solve the problems of availability.
The use of herbal remedies is a matter of empowering
the individual to take responsibility for his or her own health. It is a do it
yourself thing. The doctor is not responsible for your health, nor is the
herbal practitioner. These can only help the individual up to a point. So each
one must ultimately take full responsibility for his or her own health and the
health of his family. For this reason herbal books describe in details, how to
identify, where to find and how to prepare the herbs in a wholesome way. The
books also contain information on dosage and duration of use for effective
restoration and maintenance of health. To ensure that the individual really
take the trouble to help himself or herself, the herbalist authors always counsel their readers to help
themselves. For example, renowned herbalist Maria Treben wrote in the preface
of her book health through God’s
pharmacy. “I have tried hard in every respect to present all my experiences for
man’s utilization, I have a favor to ask: do not ring me, write to me or come
to see me! The precise index in these books will put you on the way to using
the right herbs”.
The other matter arising is the irritating
skepticism, doubt and hostility to herbal remedies among the orthodox medical
establishment. For example on the Tonight
at Nine slots on the NTA on 21st
June 1997 I watched part of a discussion fielding the Diabetes
of Nigeria. I heard a statement made by the chairman of the Diabetes Association agreeing with
statement earlier made in the progamme by a professor of Medicine that
herbalists are liars to say that they can cure diabetes. I find this stand of
the Diabetes Association rather intriguing. Does the Diabetes Association wish
to deny that the Almighty in His omniscience and love has provided herbs that
cure all human ailments including diabetes?
It is not the herbalist that cures. The herbalist only knows and applies
the herbs that cure ailments including diabetes. Diabetes Association has the interest
of patients at heart. They must therefore investigate all avenue, including
herbs for helping suffering humanity. Otherwise the Association will be guilty
of indolence. Why for example, should a Muslim whose religion does not permit
him to have anything to take insulin made from pigs be compelled to take
insulin made from pigs at the exhorbitant cost of N450 a vial when nature has
provide free a more effective treatment of diabetes. Is the Diabetes Association not aware of
successful clinical test of herbal preparations for the cure of diabetes?
I am not a herbalist, but as a grateful user of
herbal remedies, I have personally introduce a particular herb which I know is
effective, not to say cure to a sufferer who had been a patient in Teaching
Hospital. When I described the herb he said the herb grew in his cocoa farm. He
promptly went to the farm and brought a quantity of the herb which I confirmed
for him. This man has come to thank me for introducing the herb to him. He said
the herb has really worked for him. He is now robust health and has resumed his
full activities, in contrast to his former sickly self. I must re-emphasize
that the individual sufferer must take responsibility for his or her own
health. This or that professional association is not responsible for anyone’s
health. To quote Maria Treben again: Everyone
is able to improve his or her health by the health by the timely gathering and
use of herbs….. To find a way out of the hopelessness of ill health by one’s
own strength and freewill is, thanks to nature’s medicinal herbs humanly elevating.
To win back one’s health human, and bear responsibility for oneself, elevate
human dignity to such a degree that the sick person is taken half way to
recovery from the hopelessness of his sickness of his life”.
To
the individual I say free yourself from ill health and disease by embracing the
herbal remedies lifestyle. You will
enjoy radiant health and stand in gratitude to that Wisdom, that love which has
provided herbs for both nourishment and health.
Nutrition is the basis for prevention
of illness, and herbs are the most nutritious
Of all foods. They are ideal for health maintenance
because you can
take them every day, forever providing
the nutrients
your heart and other organs need, without
Danger or fatal
overdose
To order the book Your Health is Your Responsibility click here or visit http://www.healingreenremedies.blogspot.com
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