Natural Vs Chemical Health Remedies - Which Is Better?

Natural remedies are both old-fashioned and high tech - the idea of using what the earth can offer in order to cure what ails you has become an important exercise in medicine both now and in our history.

There are many types of natural remedies out there. Some of the most common ones rely on the power of herbs in order to cure illnesses and trauma. These herbs can be just as potent, if not more so, than traditional Western medicine. Take tea tree oil for example - an Australian product that is harvested from the melaleuca tree. This essential oil has long been used by indigenous peoples of Australia as an antiseptic and anti-fungal topical medicine, but it was not imported to other parts of the world until the 1920's. Today, many people use this oil instead of harsh chemical antiseptics, to cure things ranging from small skin infections to even washing areas of the house that could be contaminated!

Another natural remedy found long ago but still used today is white willow bark. The bark of this tree was the original component of aspirin. The white willow's bark contains a compound known as salicin - related chemically to aspirin that is used today. This component is what can be used as a fever reducer and pain reliever, and has been used since the times of the ancient Egyptians. Today, some people prefer white willow bark to the harsher aspirin chemical compound.

There are also many natural remedies that fall under the label of homeopathy. Homeopathy is not the same as just using herbs and oils from plants - it is an entire school of thought on natural cures. Homeopathic remedies use minute traces of substances to cure ills - substances that would actually produce the same effect as the illness if given in large amounts. The idea of homeopathy is that "like cures like", and so tiny amounts of natural compounds are given to patients with ideas like coffee will cure insomnia.

Chinese remedies also use nature to cure ills. They are very specific prescriptions of herbs, roots and other plant and animal extracts that are meant to help different organs fight illness. Chinese medicine practitioners believe that different organs govern different illnesses, and that certain natural preparations will make those organs well again. This type of medicine has been practiced much longer than Western medicine - and many people believe that these natural cures work better than what today's medical technology has to offer.

John Grimes is with AllTerrainco.com - makers of natural remedies for the outdoors such as natural insect repellent, remedy rubs and more.

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