Herbalism and Health Discussion Network
Mainstream medicine and chemical constituent extraction from herbs
Many years ago there was a local television news report (Granada TV) (NW UK TV News), in which there was an appeal launched for people to collect Yew Tree needles, since scientists had discovered a substance called Taxol, containined in them, which was effective as a chemotherapy for Cancer treatments.
The appeal naturally generated a huge and favourable response and everyhone avidly went out collecting Yew Tree needles.
Some years after it came to light that Scientists had subsequently isolated the Taxol from Yew Tree needles and then (as with other herbs used as a basis for modern mainstream medicine) sythethised this and it was being used in Chemotherapy for Cancer.
But my feeling on thnis is far from favourable....
My argument is that if nature intended Taxol to be a substance used in isolation then it would have created this in a unique plant form.
Once you extract any chemical constituent from a herb and use it in isolation with other chemical constituents, no matter how apparently insignificant, the trouble really starts...
Chemotheraphy treatments are known to destroy the white corpuscles in the blood, leaving patients wide opne to a damaged and less effective immune system, which has to have some negative consequences....
My 33 years experience in herbal medicine has taught me that when herbs are used in theor wholesome state, they have little or no side effects, but isolate any of their chemical constituents, use them either as they are afterwards or by sythesising, that they will have some adverse effects, so instinctually I always favour using herbs in the wholesome state as nature intended.
Salicylic acid, called acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), derived from White Willow Bark is the basis of "Asprin"(tm), Asprin (non-coated kind) are notorious for taking adversely affecting the abdominal wall and causing it to bleed. If White Willow Bark as a 'whole herb' was used this would be unlikely to happen.
If only people didn't tamper with nature! I say leave herbs whole as they were meant to be taken, and stop meddling, then we might see true healing without adverse reactions.
Medical Science in effect can in this damage the otherwise 'pure natural goodness reputation' of herbs, this doesn't go down well in amongst herbalists.
I am all for leaving things natural, as they come and trusting in the phenomenal powers of nature, which if not abused or meddled with can offer colossal benefits with little or no side effects. Herbal medicines by and large are also far cheaper to produce than their mainstream orthodox counterparts, and that has to be a good thing for all.
Trust in nature and the trust will never be betrayed, I have 33 years experience in herbalism which supports this statement to call on. I just wish people would have more respect for what is natural and good and stop tampering with nature.
Healing Hugs to all,
Kaz xx
The appeal naturally generated a huge and favourable response and everyhone avidly went out collecting Yew Tree needles.
Some years after it came to light that Scientists had subsequently isolated the Taxol from Yew Tree needles and then (as with other herbs used as a basis for modern mainstream medicine) sythethised this and it was being used in Chemotherapy for Cancer.
But my feeling on thnis is far from favourable....
My argument is that if nature intended Taxol to be a substance used in isolation then it would have created this in a unique plant form.
Once you extract any chemical constituent from a herb and use it in isolation with other chemical constituents, no matter how apparently insignificant, the trouble really starts...
Chemotheraphy treatments are known to destroy the white corpuscles in the blood, leaving patients wide opne to a damaged and less effective immune system, which has to have some negative consequences....
My 33 years experience in herbal medicine has taught me that when herbs are used in theor wholesome state, they have little or no side effects, but isolate any of their chemical constituents, use them either as they are afterwards or by sythesising, that they will have some adverse effects, so instinctually I always favour using herbs in the wholesome state as nature intended.
Salicylic acid, called acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), derived from White Willow Bark is the basis of "Asprin"(tm), Asprin (non-coated kind) are notorious for taking adversely affecting the abdominal wall and causing it to bleed. If White Willow Bark as a 'whole herb' was used this would be unlikely to happen.
If only people didn't tamper with nature! I say leave herbs whole as they were meant to be taken, and stop meddling, then we might see true healing without adverse reactions.
Medical Science in effect can in this damage the otherwise 'pure natural goodness reputation' of herbs, this doesn't go down well in amongst herbalists.
I am all for leaving things natural, as they come and trusting in the phenomenal powers of nature, which if not abused or meddled with can offer colossal benefits with little or no side effects. Herbal medicines by and large are also far cheaper to produce than their mainstream orthodox counterparts, and that has to be a good thing for all.
Trust in nature and the trust will never be betrayed, I have 33 years experience in herbalism which supports this statement to call on. I just wish people would have more respect for what is natural and good and stop tampering with nature.
Healing Hugs to all,
Kaz xx
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