Ancient Greek Herbal Medicine

Ancient Greek herbal medicine is the foundation of modern medicine. The ancient Greek society had doctors, surgeons and even gynecologists. The ancient Greeks were the first culture that was known to apply scientific thinking to the art of healing. Herbs were used as medicine, even during surgery. The Greeks had extensive knowledge of herbs and their healing properties making ancient Greek herbal medicine a storehouse of knowledge. Hippocrates, the father of modern medication and an ancient Greek, is the person that true rational medicine is attributed to. Hippocrates’ profound and practical philosophy was based on common sense and observation of the illness.

Disease and healing practices

The ancient Greeks believed that disease was an affliction that was carried out by the gods as a sort of reprimand. Even in today’s modern culture, some people still believe that disease is still divine in origin. Hippocrates is credited with changing the spiritually based ancient Greek herbal medicine practices to a system that is based on logic and observation. When the Romans conquered Greece, the Roman Catholic Church supported Hippocratic medicine which helped to establish the theories of the ancient Greek medicine. This establishment of medical beliefs became the basis for medical advancements throughout the world.

Scientific evidence about the effectiveness of herbal medicine

There is no question about the fact that herbs contain chemical compounds.
An estimated 25% of the prescription drugs that are currently dispensed in the United States contain at least one active ingredient that has been derived from plant material. When plant extracts are not used in drugs there is a good chance that at least one ingredient has been chemically synthesized to mimic the properties of natural plant compounds. Some of the more common pharmaceutical drugs that are based on plant origins include Aspirin, Quinine and Digitalis. Herbs have undergone numerous studies and have been researched thoroughly since ancient Greek herbal medicine became the foundation for modern medicine and really they have been studied since the beginning of time. When it comes to solid scientific proof though, evidence has been found that supports the claims that various herbal manufacturers make as to the effectiveness of herbs. There is no doubt given the definition of the word drug, which is any substance that has a physiological effect on the body, that herbal remedies do have some effect on the body. The amount of effectiveness and the safeness of the herbal formulation is what is under scrutiny. Numerous useful drugs have been derived from plant sources but so have alkaloid and other deadly poisons. The interesting aspect of ancient Greek herbal medicine is that is has lasted through the centuries.

Herbal Medicine In The Modern Era

On this day the herbal medicine is gaining popularity with over 80% of the world’s population choosing to use herbs as an alternative medicine even as their primary health care according to the World Health Organization. Alternative medicine relies on more than a regular dosage of prescribed herbs for the treatment to be effective. A Proper diet, good exercise and a positive mental attitude are all the essential components of alternative herbal medicine.

Pharmaceutical or herbal medicines

Approximately 80% of the traditional pharmaceutical medications on the market today are based on a major active ingredient that is found naturally in an individual herb. Pharmaceutical medications are typically used to treat one specific illness, which can help save a life in an emergency situation. Herbs on the other hand contain numerous minor ingredients that work in conjunction with their one main ingredient. These minor ingredients help support the function of the main ingredient as well as help it get to all parts of the body as needed. Long term use of alternative herbal medicine should be avoided because it can result in the body becoming immune to the herbs in the same way the body can become immune to pharmaceutical medicines. Once the body becomes immune to either a pharmaceutical or herbal medication it will either lose some of its effectiveness or not work at all. There is also a chance that the herbs could build up in the body, the same way pharmaceutical medications can and cause various side effects. Herbal formulations are different from pharmaceutical medications because they consist of combinations of two or more herbal medicines that work together to solve the complete problem. Alternative medicine centers on healing the mind, body and soul, instead of focusing on healing one major illness like pharmaceutical medicines do. This complete solution is one reason why alternative herbal medicine is rapidly gaining popularity.

Herbal medicine solutions – Is it the right alternative solution for you?

The first step to make a right answer for this, is to talk to your health care provider. They know your medical history and can advise you on the best solutions. Many traditional health care providers use both alternative and traditional treatments because the role that traditional medicine typically plays is being changed as more people look for a natural approach to healing. In the event your current health care provider does not believe in alternative medicine, it is possible to find a health care provider does. This makes it easier than ever for people who want to use a combination of alternative herbal medicine and prescription drugs to get sound advice from their medical care provider.