What is Herbal Medicine?
Botanical Medicine or alternative herbal medicine harnesses the powerful healing properties and synergistic properties of plants to restore health and balance in the body.
Many pharmaceutical drugs have their origins in plant
substances. Naturopathic physicians use herbs as alternative
medicine for their healing effects and nutritional value. At
Forces of Nature, we choose only the very best organically
grown or wild crafted herbs to obtain the best results.
Herbs can have remarkable healing benefits, but can
also interact with other medications and can be toxic if taken
in excess. Poor quality herbs can have no effect at all, even
if taken correctly. Inadequate dosing can be ineffective where
excessive dosing can have negative and even deadly effects.
To ensure effectiveness and to avoid any adverse reactions, we
recommend getting expert advice from our naturopathic doctors
about whether a particular herb is right for you and we
caution you against self-medicating with herbs.
Some examples of herbs that can be used for particular health
conditions:
St. John's Wort: For mild to moderate depression,
should NOT be taken along with anti-depressant medications
Gingko biloba: For improved circulation and
neurological function, should only be used with caution with blood
pressure and heart medications and NOT with blood thinners
Vitex: For PMS and infertility problems, although
there are a wide range of herbs that can enhance fertility, vitex is
only appropriate for some women with fertility problems