By Chang Kyo Oh

Natural medicine and herbal remedies have existed as long as humankind. They include the use of leaves, bark, berries, roots, gums, stems and flowers. One of the earliest herbal texts was written at the time of Nero by Pedanius Dioscorides, a Greek physician serving the Roman army. In it, he listed many plants to treat each symptom, probably in hopes that readers might find at least one medicinal plant in their own locality. As humankind progressed through the centuries, many other texts of “herbals” would follow. Yet as an industrialized society developed, along with pharmacy and medicines, the use of herbs declined - until now.

Herbal Remedies Today:

During the past 20 years, interest in medicinal plants and herbal remedies has increased dramatically throughout society. Today we find herbal products used in a variety of ways. The general public uses herbs for self-medication and as natural cosmetics. The scientific community carefully studies the biological & pharmacological effects of herbal preparations. Today, over half of the top 250 pharmaceutical companies have researched programs involving herbal plants, something that was unheard of as little as 15 years ago. In fact, most perscription medications are derived from natural products.

Herbal Remedies and Their Benefits.

Doctors have found herbs to be useful allies in treating their patients. Natural products have become useful alternatives to established therapies, mainly because they act at different stages in the disease and can be useful in combination therapy. Lets discuss some of the more popular herbs and other natural products and their uses. Most can found over the counter at any drug store or health food store.

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