For centuries Eastern, European, and many island cultures have embraced the idea of embracing mother nature to heal illness and sustain health.
On the other hand Western cultures have relied mainly on pharmaceuticals, despite the many side effect risks associated with most of these products.
There are good arguments on both sides of this contentious topic as to which is the best and let's face it, for some serious illnesses natural remedies don't hold the answer.
On the other hand for many of the most common illnesses and conditions prescription drug alternatives can be a powerful healing tool along with a very effective preventative tool.
Inflammation is the newest wild card lending credence to natural remedies For those supporting the use of natural remedies and supplements the latest studies on inflammation, and how it relates to disease, have been quite exhilarating.
What researchers are starting to find is that there seems to be a link between such serious diseases as cancer, heart disease, arthritis, and mental health disorders such as Alzheimer's and inflammation.
This has lead to pharmaceutical grade fish oil products being used to treat a myriad of conditions and ailments; by some estimates as many as 60.
In other words quell the inflammation and slow or reverse the condition.
The result thus far have been nothing short of amazing especially in the area of heart and artery disease.
How does this apply to other natural remedies Pharmaceutical products force the body to either do more of or less of something.
For example when it comes to cholesterol reduction the very popular statin medications block the enzyme HMG-CoA reductase that is needed for the body to produce cholesterol.
Less cholesterol in the body encourages the liver to remove bad cholesterol from the bloodstream.
This is just one example but I'm sure you can see the problem, if in fact inflammation is one of the cornerstones for causing disease.
Herbal and homeopathic natural remedies work differently and produce very little inflammation in the body.
In fact, some studies suggest they may even reduce inflammation.
Will there always be a place for prescription medications? In my opinion the answer is yes.
There are some serious illnesses where a person simply doesn't have the luxury to take a wait and see approach to treatment; quick action could be the difference between life or death.
Will there always be a place for natural remedies and supplements? Once again I believe the answer is yes.
Not only do alternative remedies produce less inflammation they can be used as a compliment to other forms of treatment.
For example glucosamine and chondroitin bone and joint supplements can be quite effective when used alongside other medications.
Another example would be B vitamins in conjunction with medications for anemia or high cholesterol.
In conclusion, the discussion about the best way to treat illness will continue well into the future but for now it seems natural and homeopathic remedies may have gained the upper hand especially when the discussion turns to complimentary medicine.