More and more people are turning to naturopathic medicine with its natural remedies. These remedies are considered gentle helpers that are well tolerated and whose application holistically understands the person and his disease. Today, there are a large number of diverse therapeutic approaches that work with natural remedies.
What are natural remedies?
Natural remedies serve in particular to strengthen the immune system, improve general well-being and often harmonize the body and psyche. Whoever thinks of natural remedies, usually means the medicinal herbs. Thus, herbal medicine is probably also one of the oldest forms of healing at all. Already thousands of years ago, diseases were fought with plants, some of which are unknown today and are only being rediscovered. But the understanding of natural remedies or “natural remedies” must go far beyond that. For everything that nature gives us and is conducive to health is part of it: Water, light, air, earth, food. Even our good old “home remedies” belong to the natural remedies. Natural remedies serve in particular to strengthen the immune system, to improve the general condition and often also to harmonize body and psyche. They are opposed to chemically manufactured drugs that strongly interfere with the body’s processes.
Medical application, effect and use
The application of natural remedies, by the way, now partly already appreciated in traditional medicine, results from the starting product. Water, light and air act mainly externally. Herbal medicine, also known as phytotherapy, is mainly used internally. Everyone knows the water applications of the priest Sebastian Kneipp, but at the same time he also focused on the use of medicinal herbs and a conscious diet. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the 5 elements nutrition or the Indian healing art Ayurveda with the nutrition according to the Doshas also understand the food as medicine. Various far-sighted doctors then realized that the healing source products – such as herbs – work even better if they are not taken directly, but are subjected to a processing procedure beforehand. Thus, depending on the approach, the active ingredients are broken down, extracted, diluted or energized. Natural remedies act rather gently, so that the healing effect often occurs only after a certain period of use. In many cases, the aim of natural remedies is to stimulate the self-healing powers. It is therefore a holistic form of treatment.
Natural, herbal and homeopathic natural remedies.
Many “alternative” therapy approaches make use of the positive effects of natural remedies in the form of natural, herbal or homeopathic source products. Kneipp therapy relies primarily on water, while aromatherapy uses essential oils for rubbing and inhalation. Home remedies such as heat applications (red light, hot water bottle) or simply a walk in the fresh air, exercise, a gruel soup or chamomile tea for stomach problems are just as effective natural aids as an expert massage. Herbal medicine works with the healing power of the vitamins, minerals and trace elements of plants. Hormone-like substances in certain medicinal plants (phytoestrogens) are used in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. The active ingredient is prepared in a suitable form and concentration as a capsule, tablet, tincture, tea or externally as an ointment. While TCM, for example, works a lot with herbal teas and decoctions, the English physician Dr. Edward Bach in his Bach flower therapy relies on the energetic effect of his 38 selected flower essences and the positive influence on the psychological state of the patients. Homeopathy, founded by the physician Samuel Hahnemann, works with more than 2,000 plant, mineral and animal active ingredients that are extremely diluted (“potentized”) by shaking and rubbing. The principle of homeopathy is “cure similar things with similar things”: a sick person is given the preparation that causes the same symptoms in a healthy person in concentrated form. Schüssler salts also belong to the homeopathic remedies.
Risks and side effects
Natural remedies can also have side effects and must be taken in the correct doses. Therefore, caution is advised when self-medicating. A naturopathic doctor, homeopath, alternative practitioner or pharmacist are suitable contacts.They help in the choice of the appropriate preparation and give advice on dosage. Means from organic cultivation, a common quality seal and proven production according to medical standards provide security. Natural remedies can cover a large part of complaints. However, taking them never replaces a visit to the doctor and, if necessary, scientifically proven pharmaceutical medications in the case of a serious illness.
