Plant Medicine 101: When Does Plant Medicine Not Work?

I remind you that the information provided in this series is for information purposes only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, neither is it to be construed as such. It does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment where required. Consult a doctor for medical advice, treatment or diagnosis.

Also while every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, you are strongly advised to take responsibility and do your own research.

In the previous article we looked at the language associated with plant medicine and how plant medicine works.

In this article, we will look at some scenarios where plant medicines may not work and when you may need to get help.

We live in a day and age where more people than ever are addicted to prescription drugs, opiates, quick fixes, etc. Call them whatever you want, but one fact remains – popping pills is often not the answer to most health issues.

Good health is the result of a healthy lifestyle and a body that’s ‘in balance’. Plant medicine helps you to achieve good health from within.

By supporting your immune system and preventing free radicals from ravaging your body, plant medicine can be used to ease many health problems.

However, there are times when plant medicine might not be enough. Let’s look at a few scenarios where plant medicine might not work and when you will need to get help.

Scenario One – Severity of Problem

If you have cancer or a serious health problem, very often, you will require prescribed medication to treat it. You must use common sense here.

There have been many cases where people tried to cope with serious diseases holistically only to fail miserably because they needed strong medicine, or they failed to apply appropriate protocols.

Or else, they were already too late.

The good news is that since most herbal remedies are all-natural, very often, you’ll be able to consume them in conjunction with your medication. The two are not mutually exclusive. This is the complementary approach. Your doctor, nutritionist, and/or natural health practitioner is the best person to consult here.

So, always factor in the severity of the problem when making a decision. If you have a headache, go ahead and drink a cup of peppermint tea rather than popping an aspirin.

It could also be that you are simply dehydrated, in which case, drink water.

If you have other more serious issues, see your doctor.

Scenario Two – Inconsistency

Another reason why plant medicine may not work is inconsistency.

If you were taking prescription medications, you would ensure you stuck with the regimen.

Is plant medicine any different?

All plant medicine is holistic in nature. What that implies is you need to use the remedies daily to see positive changes.

Quite possibly for an extended period of time. In some cases, at least three weeks to a few months, depending on the plant.

If you’re inconsistent and just use them once a week or as and when you feel like it, without following a strict routine, you’ll be setting yourself up for failure.

Use the plant medicine you need daily or as often as required and you’ll see results.

Scenario Three – Unhealthy Lifestyle

No amount of plant medicine can remedy an unhealthy lifestyle. Fenugreek tea is excellent for reducing the risk of diabetes and improving blood sugar levels.

If you drank a cup of fenugreek tea daily, it would be highly beneficial for your health. However, what if you also drank 3 cans of soda throughout the day?

You would be flooding your body with sugar and other chemicals that will adversely affect your health. Even with the fenugreek tea, you might still get diabetes because of other factors you might not have considered.

Your diet must be congruent with the plant medicine you’re consuming. Eat and drink clean and use the herbal remedies to improve your health.

Scenario Four – Incorrect Application

We’re all different individuals. An application that works wonders for one person may have no effect on another. For example, chamomile tea may be very effective for your spouse who is suffering from insomnia.

However, you who might also be suffering from insomnia can’t seem to get the chamomile tea to work for you. In this case, maybe drinking ashwagandha tea might help to calm you down and help you sleep.

Ultimately, some trial and error is required until you find a remedy that works for you.

There really is no need to throw the baby out with the bath water.

Which leads us to…

Scenario Five – Impatience

Plant medicines, as holistic remedies, are a lot gentler than synthetic drugs. So, they often take longer to work. Furthermore, a holistic remedy usually tries to fix the cause of the problem, whereas a synthetic drug most often masks the symptoms although you be able to get some relief – if that is all you really want.

As a result, it will take consistency and a longer duration to see results with plant medicine. If you’re impatient and stop after a few days, the plant medicine will not work for you.

Remember the tips above when making plant-based remedies a part of your health and fitness lifestyle. Nothing in life is perfect, but plant medicine does work. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater just because one or two remedies didn’t work for you.

If you keep a food diary, do include details of your intake of plant medicines so you can keep track.

There’s so much to gain from using herbs in your diet. Do stick with them. You’ll see and feel the difference in time to come.

From the next article onwards, we will do a kind of A-Z of plants, featuring one plant per article. We will kick it off with a look at the Alfalfa plant.

To a better, wiser, stronger YOU!