Are Herbal Remedies The Answer?Written by Jon Davis
It seems that almost every day we come across a story in a newspaper or magazine which raises concerns about use, misuse, or overuse of a particular pharmaceutical remedy in treatment of minor ailments, or serious medical conditions. Often these stories are quickly discredited as being ill-informed or based on insufficient evidence, perhaps medical opinion is divided, or particular experts in field prefer to wait for an extended period of time, maybe years, in order to ascertain safety, or otherwise of these commonly used remedies. This is not to criticise medical science, or its practitioners, who must rely on objective and statistically valid evidence before giving an expert opinion. However, it is little wonder that many of us turn to herbal remedies, either as a supplement, or as an alternative to manufactured pharmaceutical products. There is a reassurance in that simple word “herbal”, taking us back to simpler times, when there was little choice in how to treat our day to day bodily malfunctions, aches and pains and we made use of what was available to us, perhaps in our own back gardens!Are herbal remedies answer? Surely if they have been in use since men and women first walked on Earth they must be both effective and safe? The answer to this, as to many questions, is “Yes” and “No”, or even “Well it’s not as simple as that.” In past, herbal remedies were often administered or recommended by one particular person in neighbourhood, frequently a woman, (probably regarded as a witch), who was an expert in her field. This person would have studied and learned, by trial and error, about efficacy and safety (or otherwise) of product she was supplying. Herbal remedies may be natural, but that does not make them safe and we need to be well informed about optimum dosage as well as about possible side effects and what are called “contra-indications” in medical profession. After all, before a doctor prescribes a drug to you, s/he will refer to your medical history and question you about your lifestyle. We need to be equally cautious in self-prescribing, and take advantage of information and advice that is available to us from reliable sources.
| | The Great OpportunityWritten by Neil Millar
I assume you want to be happier. Searching for greater happiness is a wonderful thing whatever level of happiness you are currently at. It could be that you are already enjoying life and just searching for a new idea, or it could be that you have felt negative towards life or experiences life has dealt you. If you feel in anyway negative about life I would like to share something with you.It is human nature to take a look at darker side of life. I have often dwelt on this side. I’ve found that in this negative place I often feel a greater sense of hopelessness and loss. I believe when we have had a traumatic experience it is right that we should feel this way for a time. Perhaps it has been right for you to feel this way. Perhaps it was part of healing process for whatever you have been through up until now. Perhaps looking at negative side of life has served you well up until now – as a form of protection – but I think that in long run that it would be wrong and harmful to your health, and life, for you continue with these thoughts once you have acknowledged that they exist. Let me expand on why I believe this. Whatever life has dealt you, however bad things were or are; there has been a lesson for you to learn from that experience. If you are still in a situation that makes you unhappy it would be wise to review it and see what you can do to leave it or alleviate pain and frustration from it. In ending of an unhappy experience you are released and presented with something that can be used to make everyday from here onwards happier… and that something can be summed up in one word… Out of your hardship, out of your hopelessness and feeling of being lost you will find ‘opportunity’, opportunity to be free of all hardship of past, an opportunity to rediscover yourself, an opportunity to do all things you might like to have done but could not or did not do before. Let me give you an example of day a thought about an opportunity came. The thought came as a shock, so out of place with rest of my thoughts that day that I stopped what I was doing instantly. A few seconds passed and then I began to laugh like I hadn’t laughed in years.
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