Western Botanical Medicine
As with vitamin and mineral supplements, botanical alternatives to prescription
medicines have spawned an entire industry in recent years. While these products
are often presented to consumers in much the same way as over-the-counter remedies
are in drugstores, they should not be considered safe just because they are
natural or come highly recommended by the store clerk. Once again, they may
not be the right strength or choice for you, and they may not be pure enough
or processed in a way that is going to be useful to you.
Achieving good and lasting results relies on a qualified naturopathic physician
conducting a comprehensive physical exam and arriving at a specific diagnosis
of the symptoms or condition to be treated.
He or she needs to take into consideration any sensitivities that may be unique
to that patient and to advise the patient of any potential side effects that
may be associated with given botanical preparation. A pure formulation of the
botanical must then be selected and the patient instructed as to its use. Ironically,
botanical preparations in their purest forms are often much less expensive than
the widely available pharmaceuticals most consumers are familiar with.
