4 Benefits of Natural Remedies Versus Conventional Medicine
Although conventional drug-based medicines have been the norm over the last decade, natural remedies are now returning to popularity. Here are just a few reasons why…
While herbal medicines have been around since the beginning of humankind, natural remedies have enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. Odds are, you’ve probably tried at least one, yourself, and you almost certainly know others who have!
Maybe one of your friends has started using a natural product and can’t stop saying good things about it. Perhaps you’re tired of conventional medicines that just don’t seem to be working for you. Whatever your reason for wanting to find out more about natural remedies, it’s a good idea to learn their pros and cons and why many people prefer them to conventional medicines.
Let’s take a look at some of the things which differentiate natural remedies from today’s conventional drug-based medicines.
1.) No Man-Made Chemicals
When you use natural remedies, you don’t have to worry about putting harmful chemicals into your body. Many natural remedies have been used for centuries without the harmful side effects of many conventional medicines made of chemicals. Keep in mind, however, that you can still have allergies to natural, plant-based products, so go slowly, and pay attention to your body’s reactions whenever you try something new. If you notice an adverse effect, stop using the product, and use extra caution when trying related substances such as herbs in the same family.
2.) It’s Often Cheaper to Go Natural
Another reason to use natural remedies is that they are often cheaper than conventional alternatives. For example, milk or baking soda are cheap and easily available and may help to relieve heartburn symptoms, while antacid pills can be costly and not as easy to get your hands on. It’s worth researching which natural remedies are suitable for any ailments or complaints that you have, since you will often have items in the cupboard already which you could use to make your own natural treatments.
3.) Fewer Side Effects
While advertisements for conventional medicines have lots of “fine print” detailing the negative side effects which may occur to a small percentage of people using the product, you won’t find nearly as many side effects with natural remedies. While some products may have slight side effects, you likely won’t find any natural remedies which have side effects as extreme as those often attributed to conventional medicine. One reason for this is because the dosage is usually much lower for natural remedies, and they are also made of natural substances which are generally friendlier to the human body and less likely to cause adverse reactions. However, as mentioned above, watch out for allergens, and always listen to your body! If something doesn’t agree with you, try a different remedy instead. There are usually a number of different options for treating any given health condition.
4.) Natural Remedies Have Been Used for Centuries
Many conventional medicines are quite new to the market, with some of them only being available for a year or less. While they are required to go through rigorous testing processes before becoming available to the general public, this doesn’t mean that they are completely free from risk. On the contrary, you can probably think of a number of drugs that have been pulled from the market due to serious side effects – even after going through all this testing! On the other hand, herbs, oils, spices, foods and plants have been used for centuries to heal and treat various ailments, from warts and acne to depression and dementia. While you should always use caution when trying any new treatment – natural or otherwise – in general, natural substances are usually gentler on the human body, and may be just as effective.
Browse our archives for lots of tips and ideas for using various natural remedies!
