What is herbal therapy

Simply put, herbal therapy is a natural conditioning method that uses the flowers, stems, leaves, roots, fruits and other medicinal parts of various plants to regulate the physical condition and improve symptoms of discomfort through different methods such as oral administration, external application, fumigation, and inhalation. It is a type of traditional alternative therapy.

I have been practicing herbal medicine for almost eight years, and I have come into contact with quite a few related cases. Last spring, I met a young girl who works in new media. She suffered from severe seasonal allergic rhinitis. She was always groggy after taking regular antihistamines, and she couldn't concentrate at all when working on projects. Later, I followed the doctor's advice and ground the dried goose into fine powder, filtered it with normal saline and then instilled it into my nose. I persisted for more than half a month, and the frequency of sneezing and nose itching dropped by more than 70%. Later, when the seasons changed, I didn't have to do it for more than half a month like before.

Don't think that herbal therapy is a "purely natural and risk-free" universal remedy. Problems have arisen before after random trials. An uncle in his fifties heard that Polygonum multiflorum can cure black hair. He dug fresh ones in the mountains on the outskirts of the city and boiled water for it at home. After drinking it for seven days, his skin turned yellow and he felt nauseous. He was sent to the hospital for drug-induced liver injury, and he was discharged after almost two weeks of hospitalization.

Many people equate herbal therapy with traditional Chinese medicine. In fact, its scope is much broader. Herbal prescriptions are a very important part of our country's traditional Chinese medicine system. European folk often use chamomile boiled water for cold compresses to soothe sensitive skin, and lavender is made into sachets to aid sleep. The indigenous people of South America often use maca and quinine trees to regulate their bodies. These all fall into the category of herbal therapy.

Controversy over herbal therapy within and outside the industry has actually continued. Those who recognize it have solid evidence. For example, the Nobel Prize-winning artemisinin is extracted from Artemisia annua, and the active ingredients of many commonly used medicines are derived from herbal plants.； Those who disagree have their reasons. The mechanism of action, safe dosage, and toxic and side effects of most herbs have not yet been fully clarified, and there are no unified standards for use. Many exaggerated “herbal remedies” on the market have become sharp weapons that can hurt people.

When I usually recommend herbal conditioning formulas to people around me, I never dare to slap my chest and say "it's ready". I have to first confirm the person's physical constitution, whether they have underlying diseases, and whether they are taking other conflicting medications. All usage methods must be consulted with a professional doctor or pharmacist first. After all, when it comes to regulating the body, stability is much more important than "quick results".