Herbal Medicine and Nutritional Therapy - Essay Example

Compare and contrast herbal medicine and natural therapy Lecturer: presentation Introduction Complementary medicine is increasingly becoming a popular component of medical care in treating patients suffering from various diseases. This approach of treating diseases involves utilization of diverse techniques that have been in use for thousands years. However, all these techniques are similar in that they aim at treating a person as a whole rather than the symptoms of disease that the patient is suffering from (Robson, 2003). Robson (2003) uses several concepts to define complementary medicine. These include health care related practices not acknowledged by the mainstream western medical practice usually carried out by nurses, medical doctors and associated health care experts. In addition, complementary medicine incorporates alternative medicine applied for curative and therapeutic purposes, instead of the western medicine (Robson, 2003). Other important component of complementary medicine according to Robson, (2003) includes indigenous practices and medicines traditionally used for medical intervention in addition to integrative medicine, which involves using both western medicine and complementary medicine to cure diseases. In view of these dimensions, Robson (2003) argues that complementary medicine is an inclusive term, incorporating both complementary medicines and therapies. In health care, Mark and Brown (2007) note that the major concerns of complementary medicine are maintenance of health and curing diseases. Therefore, different medicines and therapies not regarded by mainstream medical practice are included in the practice. These include herbal medicine, acupuncture, reflexology, aromatherapy, nutritional therapy, hypnotherapy, massage therapy, yoga, homeopathy, osteopathy among others (Mark, & Brown, 2007). According to Blackman, et al. (2009), many health care professionals are increasingly applying both complementary and conventional medicine and therapy in their practices and this has resulted to high incidents of overlap between the two. In this regard, Fass (2001) formulated four domains of complementary medicine considering the existence of some intersections while applying medical practices. These domains include mind and body medicine, practices based on biological applications, energy medicine, and body based (manipulative) practices (Fass, 2001). Mind - body medicine in complementary medicine involves the application of diverse methods intended to improve the power of the mind to affect the functions of the body and symptoms (Damery, et al. 2009). Examples of mind-body medicine include meditation and various therapeutic activities, such as listening to music, artistry, dancing among others. Biologically based practice is the second domain in complementary medicine that involves application of natural substances such as herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, vitamins and variety of foods in maintaining health and curing illnesses (Damery, et al. 2009). The third domain of complementary medicine includes manipulation and body based practices. According to Fass (2001), this domain involves the application of tactile and structured exercises to maintain health and enhance treatment of illnesses. During manipulation, force is normally applied on a limb or joint, extending it beyond the usual range in attempt to help it regain normal health (Dos Santos, et al 2006). According to Fass (2001), manipulation can be performed as a complete therapy or be included as a component of other therapeutic treatment such as massage, chiropractic, naturopathic and osteopathic medicines. On the other hand, structured exercises include engaging in physical regimen such as tai chi, yoga among other programs with an objective of promoting health and cure certain illnesses (Ernst, & Izzo, 2009). Energy medicine is the fourth domain of complementary medicine. According to Fass (2001), energy therapy entails the application of energy fields to promote the well-being of a person and restore their health. Kelly, (2004) classified energy field therapy into bio-field and bio-electromagnetic based treatments. According to Kelly (2004), bio-field therapy is concerned with affecting the energy fields that are said to surround and enter the body of human being. Though the existence of the energy fields remains unproven, the technique is said to work by placing the hands or the body in a position that is oriented to the direction of the bio-fields (Kraft, 2009). Example of bio-field oriented therapies include qi gong, a traditional Chinese therapy that involves a combination of controlled breathing, meditation, and movement to enhance blood circulation and promote healing. Others include reiki, and therapeutic touch that involve transmission of universal energy to a person through touch with an intention of healing the spirit and then the body of the patient (Penelope, 2002). On the other hand, bio-electromagnetic based therapy entails unusual application of electromagnetic energy such as direct current, alternating current, electromagnetic field among others to treat a sick person (Kelly, 2004). This paper discusses the similarities and differences between herbal medicine and nutritional therapy as forms of complementary medicine. Herbal medicine and nutritional therapy Herbal medicine and nutritional therapy are important components of complementary medicine. Herbal medicine is derived from botanical extracts specifically from parts of plants such as seeds, roots, leaves, bark, flowers, berries and fruits for medical intentions (Damery, et al. 2009). Herbal medicine has been in existence for long periods and currently, attempts are underway to integrate them in the mainstream medicine due to their proven activity in preventing and treating infections. According to Robson (2003), herbal medicines have been in existence in periods prior to the documented history. In native African and American cultures, herbal medicines were used in therapeutic rituals while other cultures had already well developed herbal treatment systems such as traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda in India (Penelope, 2002). People in different parts of the world who used herbal medicines applied the same types of botanical extracts or closely related plant materials to treat similar ailments (Robson, 2003). Yang et al (2006) noted that over 80 percent of global population depends on herbal remedies as a component for their primary health needs. Currently, the world is experiencing renewed interests in herbal products due to increasing costs of conventional drugs and the desire to go back to traditional and natural cures. According to Kraft (2009) the mode of action of herbal medicines remains unclear, though scientists attribute it to the presence of many active compounds that works collaboratively resulting to a curative effect. However, the potency of herbal medicine depends on several factors, including climatic conditions under which herbal plants are grown, the processing and the harvesting techniques used (Kraft, 2009). Nutritional therapy is a form of complementary medicine, which involves using food in natural form to heal a patient (Patricia, 2008). According to Patricia (2008), nutritional therapy combines the application of nutrition and naturopathy. In this regard, the principle behind this therapy is founded on believe that the food we eat is our major source of medicine to cure all our ailments. This form of therapy is holistic, intended to cure the whole body, but not just the treating the symptoms. According to Fass (2001), many health problems can be treated using nutritional therapy although others require prescription of conventional medicines. These problems include disorders such as loss of energy, chronic fatigue, depression, insomnia, headaches and migraines in addition to backache and skin diseases. Since this form of complementary medicine is entirely based on our nutrition, it is used to maintain good health and curing disorders. Another important feature of nutritional therapy is that it safe to persons of all ages including children, adults and the elderly. Moreover, Fass (2001) notes that nutritional therapy has very few side effects compared with other forms of therapy, especially conventional medicines. Due to these properties, healthcare professionals and nutritionists are increasingly encouraging nutritional therapy as an effective method of disease prevention. In order to benefit from nutritional therapy, Kelly, (2004) affirms about the importance of being knowledgeable about the different types of food and methods of preparation and storage in order to maintain their nutritional value. There are several similarities between nutritional and herbal medicines. To begin with, both are used to treat the whole body rather than addressing the symptoms of a disease. In this regard, these forms of complimentary medicine are not only used to cure but maintain optimum health of an individual. Nutritional therapy and herbal medicines are obtained from biological products, especially from plants (Yang, et al. 2006). In order to benefit from these forms of complementary medicine, it is important to be aware of their medicinal and nutritional value in order to cure the underlying disorder. Another important similarity between the two is that their effectiveness is dependent on how they are prepared, processed and stored. Poor preparation and storage techniques affect the effectiveness of herbs and food to cure and maintain health. Herbal medicine and nutritional therapy differ in the method of preparation and administration. According to Yang, et al (2006), herbal medicines are first extracted from the plant before they are used. In this respect, the actual composition of herbal medicines depends on the extraction method employed. Extraction methods used in herbal medicines include using polar solvents such as water and alcohol or using non-polar solvents such as oil (Yang, et al. 2006). To improve on the extraction process, herbs with medicinal value are sometimes boiled in the respective solvent. The resulting extract is then prepared in various administrative forms such as syrups, tablets, balms and vapor for aromatherapy. However, some herbs do not require extraction and the entire part is used in form of powder or juice (Yang, et al. 2006). In nutritional therapy, extraction method is not necessary and the food is prepared normally by cooking or eating it while raw. In this respect, the mode of administration in nutritional therapy is oral. Compared with nutritional therapy herbal medicine can cause more serious and life threatening side effects. This usually happens when a person lacks proper information about a particular herb leading to improper formulation and subsequent adverse reactions in the body. In addition, there are reported incidents where herbal medicines react negatively with other conventional drugs causing serious side effects and even death. In this respect, herbal medicines require careful administration procedures that make them unsuitable to sensitive patients such as young children, pregnant women and people undergoing treatment using convectional drugs. In conclusion, both nutritional therapy and herbal medicines form an important component of complementary medicine. However, limited research and lack of information has undermined their application in curative and preventive medicine. In this respect, it is important for pharmaceutical firms to invest and work together with specialist of alternative medicine and find ways of integrating them in health care system. References Blackman, M. et al. 2009. Complementary and alternative medicine. Journal of Geriatrics Nursing. 30(3):190-201. Damery, S.L. et al. 2009. The use of herbal medicines by people with cancer: a qualitative study. Journal Of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.14:pp 10-17. Dos Santos, N. et al. 2006.The use of herbal medicine in Alzheimer diseases: a systematic review. Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine. 3(4): pp 440-445 Ernst, E. & Izzo, A. 2009. Interactions between herbal medicines and prescribed drugs: an updated systematic review. 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