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Yet
despite the dramatic advances and advantages of conventional
medicine, or biomedicine as it is also known, it is clear
that herbal medicine has much to offer. We tend to forget
that in all but the last fifty years or so, humans have relied
almost entirely on plants to treat all manner of illnesses,
from minor problems such as coughs and colds to life-threatening
diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria.
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Over
the years, infectious organisms developed resistance to synthesized
drugs, and the herb qinq hao (Artemisia annua) and its active
constituent artemisin, for example, are now being used to
treat malaria in areas of the world where the protozoa causing
the infection no longer respond to conventional treatment.
Herbal medicine often complements conventional treatments,
providing safe, well-tolerated remedies for chronic illnesses.
It is experiencing a dramatic renaissance in Western countries,
partly because no effective conventional treatment as yet
exists for many chronic illnesses, such as asthma, arthritis,
and irritable bowel syndrome. In addition, concern over the
side effects of biomedicine is encouraging people to look
for more gentle forms of treatment. It is estimated that 10-20
of hospital patients in the West are there due to the side
effects of conventional medical treatments.
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