Herbs and Medicines

Medicinal plants or herbs have been an alternative medicine since ancient times. People living in rural areas uses this kinds of herbs to cure for their illness or diseases. Usually these herbs can be easily found in their area because they are the ones who plant and grow these herbs. Herbs are relatively a lot cheaper than pharmaceutical drugs.

Today I will compare and contrast medicinal plants and pharmaceutical drugs. Based from their effectivity, price range and availability to the society.

Medicinal plants have been identified and used throughout human history. Plants make many chemical compounds for biological functions. Including defence against insects, fungi and herbivorous mammals. Over 12,000 active compounds are known to science. These chemicals work on the human body in exactly the same way as pharmaceutical drugs, so herbal medicines can be beneficial and have harmful side effects just like conventional drugs. However, since a single plant may contain many substances, the effects of taking a plant medicine can be complex. Herbs are widely used to treat disease in non-industrialized societies, not least because they are far cheaper than modern medicines (Wikipedia (2017, Feb. 17) “Medicinal plants” Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org)

A pharmaceutical drug is a drug used to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmacotherapy) is an important part of the medical field and relies on the science of pharmacology for continual advancement and on pharmacy for appropriate management. (Wikipedia (2017, Feb. 10) “Pharmaceutical drug” Retrieved from: https://en.wikipedia.org)

Pharmaceutical drug are the basic component of modern and traditional medicine. It is important that the pharmacist ensures their products safety, effectivity and good quality.

The effectiveness of all medicinal plants have not yet been tried and tested by medicine specialists, but some herbs have been of use to the community since ages. According to clinical trials demonstrated in 2010, potentially useful activity in nearly 36% of herbal medicines; another 12% had effectively never been studied scientifically.

Drug use among elderly Americans has been studied; in a group of 2377 people with average age of 71 surveyed between 2005 and 2006, 84% took at least one prescription drug, 44% took at least one over-the-counter drug, and 52% took at least one dietary supplement; in a group of 2245 elderly Americans (average age of 71) surveyed over the period 2010 – 2011, those percentages were 88%, 38%, and 64%. (Wikipedia)

Herbs has a fewer side effects due to its natural and balanced components. While pharmaceutical medicines are processed herbs with added other ingredients. One must be very careful if they will plant herbs because it can alter its effectiveness. Wrong development of medicinal herbs can give you bad side-effects or even cause your death. It can also be dangerous during pregnancy that’s why pharmaceutical drugs is more recommended.

Though pharmaceutical drugs are a lot expensive, it is a lot safer because it is proven and tested by drug specialists. Just be careful of unapproved drugs and follow its prescribed dosage intake. I would rather spend a lot of money in medicine than to risk my health while saving my money.