Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Natural Cures And The Environment



Erick Reyes-Villa
Professor Stanley
English 102
May 3, 2005
Natural Cures And The Environment
"Plants have supplied humans with cures for their ailments, from relieving headaches to treating heart disease, since the time of earliest human evolution" (Sumner 15).   If natural cures are the means of relieving many diseases, why do we as Americans rely on costly medicines?   Not only are Natural Cures beneficial to a persons health, but they also provide a more cost efficient and environment friendly way to fixing virtually any illness.
In curing a headache a physician might suggest a painkiller such as Aspirin.   According to Dr. Judith Sumner, a professor of botany at Harvard, "Americans consume about 80 million Aspirin tablets a year, but few realize that this is a medicine originally derived from willow trees" (Sumner 133).   From the tree, root infusions can be made to help minimize pain, especially pain in the head.   In 1736 feverish illnesses were common in the English countryside.   People began to believe the tree grew there to provide cures to all those suffering from headaches or fevers.   Although the willow can be used to fix head pains, it can also be used to treat blood clots thus preventing strokes and heart attacks.   
The Flu is another minor ailment that can be cured by an herbal supplement.   Yarrow otherwise known Achillea millefolium was mixed with warm milk to ease the symptoms of the common cold.   During World War II, pharmaceutical drugs were not distributed due to curtailment of shipments.   Therefore, yarrow was distributed instead.   It worked just as efficiently, if not better than the prescription drugs.   
Not only is there a natural cure for colds and minor diseases, but also a breakthrough in Cancer treatment has been developed.   "A top European cancer research scientist, Dr. Johanna Budwig, has discovered a totally natural formula that not only protects against the development of cancer, but people all over the world who have been...

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