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A Return to Home Remedies



Woman Planting a Herb Garden

Woman Planting a Herb Garden

Home remedies have been passed down from generation to generation. For example, your great-grandmother may have had a remedy for a specific ailment which she passed on to your grandmother who passed it on to your mother. Back in the early days of America, people relied on home remedies since modern medicine was unheard of back then. People did not always have a short drive to a doctor to get medicine. In those days, people walked or rode a horse since cars would be invented in the far future.

Home remedies are popular in every country. When the first Europeans arrived in America, they brought home remedies from the Old World and introduced them to the New World. Native Americans, and the indigenous people of other countries knew which plants to use to treat their health ailments and conditions.

Home remedies have existed since the beginning of human existence on this planet. It all started with Thral and his dog. He ran from his cave holding his stomach. He was trying to make it to the hole in time before he had an accident. He knew that it was the meat he had eaten the previous night. His dog was also feeling unwell. His wife was furious because the dog had thrown up once again on the cave floor when she had mopped it from his last hurl. As Thral was squatting over his hole, he noticed the dog approaching some leaves on the ground and eating them. Immediately, the dog felt better. Thral stood up, picked up some leaves, and ate them. All of a sudden he felt better. “I have discovered a miracle plant!” he exclaimed to his wife as he ran back into his cave. Thus, the first home remedy was discovered.

Well, maybe that is not exactly what happened.

While home remedies were popular back in the day with the introduction of modern medicine, people seemed to have lost their interest in it. Maybe going to the doctor and purchasing expensive medications is more convenient to them. Maybe people think they may be more reliable. It is understandable in some ways since some home remedies in early America were more like superstitions. It was a belief that illnesses were caused by evil spirit and spells. Some superstitions include wearing a smelly sock around your neck to cure a sore throat or pressing a silver coin against your lip to stop a nosebleed.

Many Medical Doctors Now Recognize the Usefulness of Herbal Treatments

While most doctors know how useful herbal treatments are, there are some who do not want to share this knowledge with their patients. Maybe some of the reasons include they believe that synthetically produced medications are more reliable and safer than herbal treatments. Then again they might be afraid to lose patients if they turn to herbal remedies. However, there are some doctors who recognize how useful herbal treatments are and want to share these with their patients. Since herbs are natural, these doctors know that they contain fewer side effects and are just as reliable in treating illnesses, ailments, and diseases.

With the introduction to medicine, there have been great advances made in the medical field. People are living longer lives. With conditions that once gave people a sense of loss, people now have a sense of hope with new innovations in medicine and treatments. However, have you ever seen commercials advertising the latest medicine that is to work wonders for a specific illness? Do you ever notice the side effects listed with that medicine? The doctors are aware of the side effects as well. They do not want to feel responsible if they hear that a patient of theirs died from the side effects of any medications they prescribe. This does happen throughout the world.

That is why these doctors turn the patients to herbal treatments. They know that they can be safely used on a long-term basis and be used to not only treat the symptoms of the patients’ health conditions, illness, or disease, but also provide other benefits to the body such as making the immune system stronger and removing toxins from the body.

These doctors know that herbs, which originate from roots, leaves, and bark, have been used as herbal medicine for thousands of years. This is a lot longer than modern medicine. With a high mineral and vitamin content, they play a role in nourishing, energizing and strengthening the body. These doctors know that a majority of pharmaceutical drugs are actually derived from plants. Two great examples include penicillin and aspirin. The first comes from a fungus that is produced from a plant. The white willow tree is known as nature’s aspirin. Some other examples include codeine which comes the opium poppy plant, digitalis which comes from foxglove, and ephedrine which comes from the ephedra sinica plant.

Marigolds can be used in many home remedies

Marigolds can be used in many home remedies

Why are herbal treatments growing in popularity among doctors? Some of them already have this knowledge from home remedies that were passed down through the generations from their own ancestors. Others are looking at scientific research and admitting there is enough evidence to support this. While modern medicine might be needed for more serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, herbal treatments can be used for conditions such as:

  • Asthma
  • Arthritis
  • Fatigue
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Migraines
  • Psoriasis
  • Eczema

Today, there are more doctors who are recognizing how important and reliable herbal treatments are. These are the ones who are in the medical field not for the money but for the well-being of the patients. Even pharmaceutical companies are joining in by having a long line of herbal compounds and using them in the manufacture of medications. Within the next decade, more doctors will become aware of the medical properties of natural herbal medicine.

Since herbal and home remedies cost less than chemically made medications, it is a good idea to start stocking the shelves in your house. However, before you start an alternative treatment, talk to your doctor for advice. A herb that you are considering on taking may have an adverse interaction with other medications you are taking at the present time. There are also some herbs, while they are natural, can cause damage if you exceeded the recommended daily dosage.

Once a dying art form, people are starting to come back to this when they realize that the medications the doctors tell them to take just do not do the trick. The Everyday Book of Home Remedies lists common treatments for a different variety of health ailments and conditions. There are many remedies you can try for a specific ailment. Therefore, if one remedy does not work, try the next one and the next until your ailment is treated.

Always remember to keep your regular physicals and checkups.




© 2017 Lois Ryan


Lois Ryan (author) from Binghamton NY on November 22, 2017:

Thank you and you have a happy day tomorrow. Surprisingly my parents took us to the doctor even though there were ten of us. But it was usually when we had our shots and when we were sick. As a kid I remember only going twice, once when I cut my hand on a rusty nail, but had already had my tetanus shot and once when I had Strep.

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on November 22, 2017:

As a child my family still would use home remedies even though the Dr. was a short distance from our home. And still today I use some of them. If it ain't broke we don't need to fix it huh ??? Thanks for sharing. Angels are on the way to you this evening and Happy Thanksgiving. ps