The Use of Garden Plants as Cures
Not every health problem requires a prescription drug or a trip to the doctor’s office. Many common ailments go away on their own with simple self-care measures, while the others can easily be treated with garden plants which have medicinal properties. These cannot replace medical treatment but they are often effective for minor problems and as a complement to the prescribed treatment.
Since just about all drugs can cause side effects which can sometimes even be life-threatening, more and more people are turning to natural remedies, mostly plant based ones. Furthermore, the recent scientific research has shown that many plants which have been used in folk medicine are effective and safe, while many drugs are based on plant extracts which means that the original plants can be used as a natural alternative. For example, instead of taking an aspirin to relieve headache you can drink a cup of willow bark tea as aspirin’s active component – salicylic acid is also found in willow bark. However, it is important to keep in mind that plant based remedies are often less concentrated than the drugs which means that they are not always as effective as the pill for instance.
Despite the fact that herbal remedies are popular because they are all natural and because they can easily be grown in the garden by oneself, it is important to be aware that they are not always as safe as you would expect them to be. Medicinal plants can cause unwanted side effects as well, especially in larger doses. In order to be able to use herbal remedies safely, it is necessary to know the exact dosage and how to prepare a remedy from plant material. In addition, there are also medicinal plants which are too dangerous to be used by yourself. For example, foxglove (Digitalis) which is by the way a popular ornamental plant is also used to treat cardiac conditions. But since its consumption can be deadly even in small quantities, it is virtually useless for herbal medicine.
In addition to knowing which plants and which doses are used to treat particular health problems, it is also highly important to know what you are treating. If you have a medical diagnosis, this is not an issue but if you are not sure what is causing health problems, you are highly recommended to visit your doctor to get a diagnosis. Keep in mind that self-diagnosis with the aid of online resources or/and medical literature is very dangerous since a number of different conditions can cause the same symptoms and require laboratory or other diagnostic tests to make a diagnosis.
In the end, it is important to mention that herbal remedies are not safe for everyone. Special precaution is required if having a medical condition because the treatment of a minor health issue can worsen the primary condition. People who have a medical condition as well as those who are taking any medications no matter if they are prescription or over-the-counter drugs should always ask their doctor for approval before using herbal remedies as these can also cause drug interaction. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are recommended to avoid herbal remedies unless explicitly allowed to use them by their doctor.