![]() Nature's Medicines |
||
| For
thousands of years, people have been using the products of the natural
world to help them stay healthy. For example, North American Indians
chewed willow branches for headache. That’s because willow contains salicin,
which is a precursor to the active ingredient in Aspirin®. Like Aspirin®,
many drugs are derived from natural products – usually from plants – by
chemically altering, purifying and concentrating them. By understanding and regularly using the medicines nature has given us, we can help our body to maintain its health in addition to managing health concerns as they arise. Herbal and supplement products are nature’s medicines. For example, St. John’s Wort contains a natural antidepressant; Echinacea helps to boost your immune system by counteracting an enzyme that weakens your cells and lets viruses in; and the leaves of the ancient Ginkgo tree help keep your blood vessels clear, allowing more blood to flow to your brain and helping impaired memory, anxiety and depression. |
![]()
|
|