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will but attend carefully to
what he feels; otherwise he might mistake his Illness, and
apply an improper Remedy.
I shall also recommend the Diet fittest to be used in each
Case; which often contributes more to the Patient's
Recovery, than his Physick (doctor): At the same Time, he
shall have my best Advice to prevent every particular
Ailment; which will be happier for him, than to know how to
cure it.”
Ben Franklin knew a good
thing when he saw it – the pamphlet was republished by his
press in 1736 and again in 1737. Every Man His Own
Doctor was the first published work on herbal remedies
in the New World – and it specifically offered herbal
preparations as an alternative to the expense and dangers of
‘modern medicine’ – 350 years ago. Tennent also focused on
knowing your own body and the effects of diet on health and
prevention as preferable to cure – all tenets that are of
major importance in holistic medicine even today.
Setting aside Tennent’s use of
“Every Man,” his premise is well taken. We are each fully
responsible for our own health. And for years, herbs have
played an important role in optimum health.
Holistic medicine and herbal
supplements have been used for thousands of years in many
cultures. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine dates back almost
4,000 years, and is highly regarded not only among herbalists in
China, but among the conventional medical community. Western
medicine has been slower to re-examine the traditional herbal
supplements, but as study after study proves the effectiveness
and safety of many herbal preparations that have been used for
centuries, even western doctors are starting to take notice.
In recent years, supplements
have come to the forefront of medical examination and literature
again. Conventional modern medicine is taking a closer, harder
look at herbal supplements like black cohosh, echinacea, red
rice yeast, saw palmetto and gingko biloba and finding that many
traditional herbal treatments live up to their traditional
reputations.
Because of the proof offered by
clinical trials, organizations like the American Academy of
Family Physicians now present information on herbal supplements,
as well as recommendations for safe use. You can find a great
deal of information about current clinical trials and results at
www.nccam.nih.gov, the web site of the National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine maintained by the
National Institutes of Health.
Because the safety and
effectiveness of any herbal supplement depends on taking it
appropriately and in the right dosages, we recommend that you
always consult your doctor before beginning to take any herbal
supplement. This is especially important if you are taking
other prescription medications or are scheduled for surgery. We
also recommend that you use herbal supplement products from a
manufacturer that shows GMP compliancy, and read labels
carefully for dosage and ingredient information.
Herbal
supplements can be a valuable tool in your quest for optimal
health.
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