According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of modern drugs used in the United States have been derived from plants. Three quarters of plants that provide active ingredients for prescription drugs came to the attention of researchers because of their use in traditional medicine.

Did you know that the bark of the white willow tree was the original aspirin? Ancient Egyptians used white willow bark for a host of ailments including inflammation, fevers and headaches. The Greek physician Hippocrates wrote about white willow's medicinal uses in 5th century B.C.

Then in the early 1800’s, scientists identified what was believed to be the active ingredient in white willow bark, a compound called salicin. Salicin is converted by the body to salicylic acid. A company Bayer eventually created a synthetic version called Aspirin. This synthetic version had side effects and people using the synthetic salicylic acid developed stomach ulcers and bleeding.

Many herbs or plants have dangerous compounds or chemicals, but they also contain compounds and chemicals which are very beneficial when taken as a whole. Using the whole herb rather than standardized extracts, significantly reduces side effects while maximizing efficacy, exactly as nature intended.

The term whole herb however this doesn’t mean using the whole plant. Most herbal preparations use the parts of the plant that contain the compounds needed. In some cases the entire plant is used, but usually different parts of plants are used like the leaves, flowers, roots, or fruit, as they have different compounds. Ginkgo Biloba, for example, it is well known that the seeds of this plant are poisonous and can cause seizures and that only the leaves should be used.

Herbal remedies using whole herbs and full spectrum extracts are far superior to those which use standardized extracts. You may have heard the term 'standardized' extract used in relation to herbal remedies, but do you know what this means?

Many companies have begun manufacturing herbal remedies using a process of extraction whereby harsh chemicals are employed to extract the active ingredients of medicinal herbs.

You will recognize these extracts by the usage of the words 'standardized' extract on the labels. This method of manufacturing is often cited as being more scientific and able to produce a superior product with controlled and guaranteed amounts of active ingredients in each product.

Contrary to these claims, this process is not approved by the manufacturers of holistic medicines. One of the reasons is that the process of extracting so-called 'active ingredients' and isolating them from the rest of the herb is one that has resulted in an increase in side effects, as the herb in this way loses its natural ability to protect against side effects.

In addition, many manufacturers use all parts of the plants to create standardized extracts, whereas herbalists know that only certain parts of some herbs should be used.

The most recent example of the dangers of using this manufacturing process includes the development of liver toxicity from using Kava Kava extract, an herb which has been safely used for hundreds of years!

Homeopathic remedies use a variety of ingredients of herbal, mineral, or animal origin. Homeopathic formulas are created using different ingredients in exact amounts for maximum results. Using the body’s natural healing system these preparations cause the body to react, to fight against the symptoms and the immune system remembers this reaction. It works almost like a vaccination.