They are much more predictable, well understood and easier to dose than the chemical cocktail of natural compounds. Please note that I am not saying that there aren’t any useful natural medicines. I am stating that it is better to isolate the active components.

  • CodeGameEat@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I agree for most things with some exceptions. For example, when you have a flu/cold taking some herbel tea, citrus and honey are good natural remedies that help manage symptoms.

    It’s often better to do that than taking medication that suppress symptoms. Those symptoms (particularly fever when in acceptable levels) are your immune system working to kill the virus.

    But in general replacing medication with natural alternatives is just a bad idea imo.

    • angrystego@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      This depends on the kind of herbal tea you use. Not all herbs are as safe as others. Some of them can be toxic if taken regularly (eg. Petasites hybridus, used traditionally in the dorm of tea to treat cold). Some of them also just suppress symptoms. Some of them are understudied and we don’t know whether some of the chemicals they contain are not carcinigenous or something. Medicinal plants are amazing but tricky.

      • CodeGameEat@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I was more talking about “normal” herbal tea like lemon, camomille, mint… My go to when i’m sick is ginger/lemon herbal tea. I wasnt really talking about weird understudied herbs, that can be more of a problem than a solution for sure.