11/14/2019
I swear I'll write a book about this one day: I believe in the partnering of integrative and allopathic medicine. Both plant medicine and pharmaceuticals (many of which are derived from plants) have their pros and cons. In general herbs have far less side effects than pharmaceuticals and are therefore often good for managing side effects of pharmaceuticals and for treating chronic, non life threatening conditions. They are also much easier on the liver, making them an excellent option for non-life threatening conditions and conditions that don't require much pain management.
Despite the fact that studies have shown some plant medicines to be just as effective as their pharmaceutical counterparts, the western medicine industry usually dismisses plant medicine and alternative therapies as quackery. Big Pharma wants to maintain its financial stronghold on healthcare at all costs. That said, if you have cancer, need a brain tumor removed or are spouting blood from a severed limb or gunshot wound, plant medicine will not help you like western medicine will. There is also stem cell therapy which is making amazing strides in healing a number of conditions that previously had no cure.
Often plant medicine enthusiasts and those who prefer pharmaceuticals will take opposite sides of the fence. In reality, it's ALL medicine, and a TRULY well-rounded medical practitioner is trained in both types of medicine.