Herbal MedicineHerbal MedicinePresented by: Jeanne Gehrke

HW499-01

Pharmaceuticals vs. Herbal

Around 50% of people in Western countries take one or more conventional medicines.

Pharmaceuticals is geared to isolate plant chemicals which can be patented.

Herbs occur naturally so they cannot be patented.

(Stonebridge, 2012)

Herbs

Ancient civilizations believed that there is a plant that would treat every disease – we just needed to find it.

Herbs have been used for over 5,000 years to treat illness.

There are over 1,000 herbs used today to treat disease in several different countries.

Many more are being discovered deep within rain forests and jungles each day.

(Stonebridge, 2012)

How are herbs used?

Fresh or dried

Liquid or solid extracts

Tablets, capsules, powders

Teabags

(Office of Dietary Supplements, 2012)

Common Preparations

Tea or infusion

Boiling of roots and drinking the solution

Tinctures

Extracts

(Office of Dietary Supplements, 2012)

To be classified as a dietary supplement, a botanical must

meet the definition given below: is intended to supplement the diet;

contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins; minerals; herbs or other botanicals; amino acids; and other substances) or their constituents;

is intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid;

is labeled on the front panel as being a dietary supplement

(Office of Dietary Supplements, 2012)

Why is herbal research necessary?

Herbs are a natural source of medicine

Using the whole herb as it occurs in nature is more synergistic for the body

Pharmaceuticals are continuing to create products from extracts that are potentially dangerous to consumers

Destruction of rain forest and other nutrient rich sources of herbs

(Kaplan, 2011)

Depression St. John’s Wort

Mild to Moderate Depression

Compared well to Prozac

Could decrease the effectiveness of other medications

What are some side effects of using the drug Prozac?

(Kaplan, 2011)(Drugs.com, 2012)

Conclusion…….

How much time do we have?Many species of plants have

already been destroyedHow many more will be

destroyed today?What can we do to improve

research now?

References:References:Drugs.com, (2012). Prozac Side Effects. Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/sfx/prozac-side-effects.html

Office of Dietary Supplements, (2012). Botanical Dietary Supplements. Retrieved from http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground-HealthProfessional

Straub, J. A., (2011). Herbal Alternative Medicine: The Benefits of Being Informed. Retrieved from http://www.healthandwellness.kaplan.edu/cam.html

Stonebridge, (2012). Master Herbalist Course. Retrieved from http://p15136218.pureserver.info/lessonplans16/MasterHerbalist/unit2.htm