history

For centuries remedies have been passed down by our parents and grand parents to cure various ailments.  There are so many different remedies available.  Primitive jungle tribes have to forage for plant cures, they can't just pop into a health food shop or chemist.  When I was a child I can remember my grand mothers cure for a cold.  She would rub the soles of our feet with raw onion before she would send us to bed.  Believe it or not, yes, it does help to suppress cold symptoms.

Alternative medicine, as used in the modern western world encompasses any healing practice' that does not fall within the realm of conventional medicine. Some of which include - chiropractic, herbalism, meditation, yoga, acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicines and homeopathy. The use of alternative medicine appears to be increasing.

People on all continents have used hundreds and thousands of indigenous plants for treatments of ailments since prehistoric times. Medicinal herbs were found in the personal effects of an Ice Man, whose body was found frozen for more 5,300 years which appear to have been used to treat parasites found in his stomach and intestines.

Some healers often claim to have learned by observing that sick animals change their food preference to nibble bitter herbs they would normally reject. Sick animals tend to forage plants rich in phytochemicals that have antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, a plausible case can be made for self-medication of animals in the wild.

In the written record, the study dates back 5,000 years to the Sumerians who described well establisheded medicinal uses for such plants as Laurel, Caraway and Thyme.

The ancient Greeks and Romans also made medicinal use of plants - as stated by Hippocrates - the father of medicine. Hippocrates advocated the use of a few simple herbal drugs along with Fresh Air, Rest and a proper diet.

The word drug itself comes from a dutch word 'druug' (via the french word drogue) which means dried plant. Some examples come from the roots of dahlias, quinine from cinchona, morphine and codeine from the poppy and digoxin from foxglove.

Homeopathy is a great favourite. Homeopathy is a gentle and effective medical practice that was first developed over 250 years ago. As well as many professionally trained homeopaths, there are growing numbers of people who are learning how to use homeopathy successfully by themselves to improve their health.

It's all about understanding  and looking after our own body and its needs. After all, we only have one chance to live in this world - we should , therefore, take care of ourselves from cradle to grave.