Herbal Remedies: Worthwhile Alternatives Or Expensive Voodoo?

As a few of you may have guessed with my sudden hiatus, I’ve been a little ill recently and had to slow down a little to recover. While I was sick, I was presented with a real choice, do I practise what I preach and stick with herbal medicine or go with the universally acclaimed conventional methods?

In a few short years, we’ve gone from a world of aspirin and paracetamol (acetaminophen) to being prescribed hot chillies and acupuncture in every health magazine and TV show and I’m determined to find a happy balance that actually works. Every morning I wake up to another batch of penis pill/baldness cure emails and wonder if people actually buy these things and how well they really work (herbal medicine, not Viagra) so I took a look at the science behind some of the most popular ones to see if it’s really worth the trip to Holland & Barrett.

1. Ginseng

My mum used to swear by it as a “stay young forever” miracle-cure, but until recently, I had absolutely no idea of the “official” usage. Ginseng is an adaptogen, used to treat illnesses caused by stress such as: depression, anxiety, insomnia and a reduced strength immune system. The conventional alternative to treat anxiety, insomnia and the like would be benzodiazepines, which are wildly effective, but have a list of side effects long enough to replace my wallpaper. Now we’re pretty much left with a choice between the Devil you know and the one you’re left to trust.

The traditional ginseng plant – panax ginseng – is usually found in the south-eastern region of Asia, as opposed to the American form – panax quinquefolius – which you can spot all the way along the east coast. Either will be growable at home, but for simplicity’s sake, we’ll stick to the American strain (the one you’re most likely to find in local shops). For the best results, you’ll want acidic soil (a pH of around 5 should do) with high in phosphorous and calcium.

Sold as either an extract in capsule/tea form or as a whole root, ginseng is to be taken daily in 200mg doses for 2-3 weeks with a 7 day rest period.

2. Aloe vera

One time I was “surfing” on the beach, when a thunderous wave crashed over me and I got cut up pretty badly by the rocks in the sand. As I staggered along the shore slightly dazed, the only thing I could think of is how much it would suck to get an infection and have to sit out the rest of the holiday. After seeing my war wounds, one of the locals handed me some aloe vera and told me to liberally rub the sap on the cuts and leave it to sooth them. Now, while I can’t compare what it may have been like without the cold goo of a jagged leaf, it definitely made me feel a lot better and all of the scar tissue I should have “earned” is non-existent.

Used medicinally for centuries, the aloe vera plant can be taken as a tea (only recommended if you don’t have any tastebuds) or applied topically when needed. Studies suggest that the plant can do anything from increase bio-availability of drugs consumed with aloe vera (I guess that’s why it’s in yoghurt) to preventing the infection of burns.

I could honestly type out another 500 words on the supposed benefits of the mystical aloe vera plant (eliminates dandruff, helps with eczema, strengthens teeth) but really, I think it sells itself. If I were to buy a conventional product for each use I’d get from one potted plant, my wallet would jump out of my pocket and find a more sensible spender. But, as with any natural remedy, it doesn’t come with a list of the potential side effects printed on it, so if you experience any discomfort, consult your doctor and they should be able to further consult you.

In terms in cultivation, aloe vera is a dream to grow. For everyone out there that has killed plant after plant by forgetting to water, go and grab yourself some aloe vera seeds. Much like a camel, it won’t need much fluid (especially at this time of the year) so allow the soil to dry out between watering times and ensure it is soaked through each time. Because aloe barbadensis is native to Africa, it’s used to plenty of sun and lots of heat, so keeping the plant near a south facing window – if you’re above the Equator – or just somewhere sunny.

3. Tea

What better way to start the day than with a warming cup of tea? Available in every colour of the rainbow and with tastes ranging from sickly sweet to “did I just pour a cup of bitter?”, there’s something in that bag for everyone. The most common tea (at least where I live) is derived from the leaves of the camellia sinsesis plant, which provides a surprising range of products. I’d have never imagined green tea, black tea and even Darjeeling all came from the same leaves.

In terms of medical benefits, we’ll stick to green and black tea. Both are said to have powerful antioxidant properties and promote a sense of general well-being, but there are a few slight differences.

Green

Because of the oxidative polymerisation process used to create black tea, it loses all ECGC epigallocatechin gallate which leads to the formation of theaflavins, bisflavanols and thearubigins, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

ECGC has been researched as a potential cure for a wide number of potential diseases. Some of the most notable uses are as a HIV cure and cancer prevention because of its anti-inflammatory properties and regulation of cell replication. Drinking green tea is like giving your immune system a sword and a shield, but, the bio-availability of EGCG post-ingestion is up for debate. Don’t let this scare you off though, the benefits are still up for grabs, just don’t use boiling water!

Black

With an increased caffeine level (around 50mg depending on the time brewed compared to the 15mg of green tea) black tea is an entirely different monster. The amount of caffeine leaves the drinker with improved cognitive functions, such as better memory and improved reactions, while increasing physical performance. A few cups of tea before an intense workout will improve your endurance by a significantly noticeable amount. However, the negative effects of caffeine are well documented and could lead to serious problems if you have any pre-existing heart conditions, it’s best to ask your doctor first before undertaking a long-term caffeine ingestion program. Around 100mg is a good figure to aim for without getting that unstoppable pounding heart sensation.

One of the more prominent effects of drinking black tea is the reduction of uric acid, which can greatly lower the chances of developing gout. These also helps with the prevention of type 2 diabetes – by decreasing insulin resistance – and uric acid stones.

Oh, and be sure to avoid milk to maximise the antioxidant qualities.

So, both types of tea give great positive effects but they don’t overlap too much. In my opinion, having a cup of one in the morning and the other at lunch or dinner is a wonderful idea. Alternatively, green tea extract has a lot of the great healing powers found in the teabag and can be taken with a cup of black tea to synergistically improve their bio-availability to increase the benefits.

4. Cannabis

No opinion post is complete without a little controversy! When a drug goes through the testing phase, the potential for abuse is factored in as a judge its effectiveness as a cure (which is why I can’t get any morphine for eye-strain). Cannabis is one of the most widely recommended plants for a massive range of ailments ranging from nausea to Alzheimer’s disease. The problem is, the ubiquitous recreational use has reduced its public image to the point of medical experts being shunned for releasing papers reflecting on cannabis in a positive light. I won’t get in to the politics behind it, but the medical benefits are definitely worth a mention.

Before I go any further, I can’t really advocate the use of an illegal drug, no matter how high the high reward may be. But, what I would like to do is open a few eyes to one of the most unique plants known to man.

As many of you probably know, the active ingredient most responsible for the advantages (THC tetrahydrocannabinol) is also responsible for the psychotropic effects. This leaves us in an awkward position because it’s very hard to get the medical benefits without feeling the sought after side-effects.

In terms of Alzheimer’s research, cannabis has shown to be beneficial in slowing down the release of acetylcholinesterase which is responsible for the breakdown of neurotransmitters, leading to the build-up of protein which causes the prominent effects of Alzheimer’s (mainly memory loss). While not necessarily a cure, it gives the affected party the chance to avoid the serious dementia which stems from neuroinflammation.

Cannabis has also been researched as a solution to the HIV disease. Not many drugs have managed to do anything at all and HIV is generally seen as a death sentence. However, the pain-killing properties along with the appetite stimulation greatly improve the lives of those afflicted with the HI virus. In my opinion, that’s a huge bonus and definitely worth looking in to, regardless of the social stigma.

Lastly, out of the major diseases, cannabis is being looked at as a cure for cancer. This is being done in two parts, firstly as a prevention and to slow down excess cell replication/tumour growth and also to ease the ill-effects of chemotherapy.

When smoked sans tobacco, cannabis has not been shown to cause lung cancer, which is good news for cancer researchers (curing bowel cancer and causing lung cancer wouldn’t be great news) and has even proved to arrest cancerous growth. As with HIV, it also helps with the pain cancer patients are plagued with which can be very relieving considering the conventional opioid pain-killers such as morphine which can have some very unpleasant side-effects.

In terms of chemotherapy aid, the anti-emetic properties of THC help a great deal with the nausea and vomiting which can also lead to a problem with swallowing and holding down tablets. In addition to this, the synergistic effect of both methods of cancer emission can lead to a higher percentage of positive results.

The problem is that because of the legal status of cannabis in much of the world, the general public has to either risk going to jail or go without. If you’re lucky enough to be picked for a study, you’ll find the chance to experience the positive effects for yourself. Other than that, the benefits you’ll feel are limited to knowing it helped somebody else.

Also, the negative long-term effects can lead to an increased risk of depression and schizophrenia if the user is predisposed to mental illness. Overall, I think it’s really a case-by-case drug in serious situations, but the glowing effects are open to all on a semi-regular basis.

Conclusion

In conclusion, writing this post has been a massive learning experience. Some of the things I was a little too scared to give a good try are actually pretty solid and have a strong scientific foundation which is backed by more than the guy trying to sell you as much as you can buy. However, the real problem is whether they stand up to their lofty expectations. Every day the news is filled with a new cancer cure, which sounds great for us, but for people in need of serious help, speculation really isn’t enough. There is a real danger of people being misguided by with anecdotal evidence and avoiding medical care in favour of experimental medicine. I can’t question the widespread benefits of some of the substances discussed above, at times, it feels like they’re pushed at the successor to the kitchen sink.

Whether people agree with them or not, there are a lot of strong opinions on either side of the argument. The stigma works both ways. Some people will avoid trying herbal remedies because they are perceived to have little scientific basis and are purely pushed on hearsay. On the other hand, others will argue that the benefits are there to be seen and are definitely worthwhile alternatives.

However, we’re in a position where some of the conventional drugs prescribed to us can have profound negative side-effects. People are dying from taking their prescriptions as ordered and the drugs responsible for the most fatalities are available in pharmacies across the world. Maybe it’s about time we started giving alternate research a try?

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