Green Medicine: A Grass-roots Approach to Illness
One major advantage of Chinese herbal remedies is that they are relatively inexpensive – certainly in comparison with the $28.5 billion that people in the United States recently spent on “drugs and sundries” in one year. It was the cost factor that in 1974 led the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) to encourage all countries in the Third World to develop their own traditional systems of medicine. At the time, the move was criticized as “giving the green light to witch doctors,” but its proponents called it a very necessary measure because of the urgent health problems of developing countries.
Green Medicine: A Grass-Roots Approach to Illness
By Mr. Ghaz, October 17, 2009
Green Medicine: A Grass-Roots Approach to Illness
Doctors and surgeons were very baffled. The kidney transplant patient at Dulwich Hospital in London had developed an infection in the operation incision that would not clear up. Then a young doctor remembered a remedy he had seen native doctors, practicing traditional medicine, use successfully in South Africa. He laid strips of a papaya fruits across the infected wound. The wound healed.
This unorthodox medical success, achieved in 1977, was met with ridicule. Even the doctor himself admitted, “It’s not awfully scientific.” But although treatment by “green medicine” – the use of plant remedies – is often derided by the medical profession in Europe and North America, it is commonplace in many other parts of the world, especially in China.
A Green Movement
Influenced by Europe and American ideas, much of China adopted Western medical practices in the 1920’s, and its traditional medicine, developed over thousands of years, was declared illegal. But in 1958 the Chinese Communist leader Mao Tse-tung lifted the ban because there were enough doctors to treat China’s millions, and few could afford sophisticated drugs from Western manufacturers.
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James Tiger | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Very informative! Good work! Cheers!
martie | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
extremely interesting article.
xoxo | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Good post. Lovely article as usual.
cardy | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
A fab article from you! thanks for the info!
ken bultman | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Yes, homeopathic medicine works. It would be nice if China would stop exporting tainted products.
Christine Ramsay | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
An excellent article. If palnts have been used for thousands of years to treat ailments then why shouldn’t they be used today. There is definitely a place for them. Great work.
Christine
lillyrose | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
What a fantastic article, so well presented and very informative! I have always been interested in homeopathy, when I would as a vet nurse we used it on animals and got some splendid results!
gdfaisal | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
very informative… and interesting!! holistic medicine is a new subject in itself!
Susan | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Well written. We in the US are inundated with attempts to block our ability to heal ourselves. BigPharma makes herbs illegal if they patent the derivitives (red yeast rice is a prime example). Every year we need to organize a grass roots movement to block a bill making vitamins and herbs illegal. The goal of Western medicine is no longer to treat the sick but to treat symptoms, get people sicker with the treatments and keep them on drugs as long as the body will hold up. Self-responsibility for health is frowned upon. Whatever disadvantages 3rd world countries have, I’ll bet they’re healthier.
seashell66 | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Very informative. My sister is an acupuncturist so I have seen the bias against anti-Western medicine first hand.
Love the photos and your open-mindedness.
K.Reshma | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting article
cutedrishti8 | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
very long informative, helpful information
ReggieLutz | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
This is a great article!
Sourav | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Very informative article!
Tanya Wallace | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Amazing, wonderful article as always Mr Ghaz!Very,very interesting!I was impressed when reading about the snails and how the ragweed type leaves can possibly kill them.Excellent work by all standards!
Idazalee | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Absolutely amazing! well-written piece and very informative as well. Good work Mr Ghaz!..Thanks for sharing
Ruby Hawk | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
We used to have what we called herb doctors but I haven’t heard of them in a long time. I wish we did have more doctors treating with herbs.
Katien | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
Very informative article. I have always thought that it is logical that nature provides remedies for natural ailments (perhaps not those that are caused by modern day living). Western medicine either causes more problems than it cures or shortens the illness by a day or two. Definitely not worth the money that it costs.
Shirley Shuler | Oct 17, 2009 | Reply
An excellent and very informative article, thanks for sharing
wonder | Oct 18, 2009 | Reply
There is everything around us, all we need is a mindset and eyes to see.A wonderful article.
Francois Hagnere | Oct 18, 2009 | Reply
What an interesting article and so informative. I love you illustrations too. Thank you very much for sharing this precious information.
Very best wishes.
Louie Jerome | Oct 18, 2009 | Reply
Very interesting article. I wondered what that twig growing out of my head was. Your cartoon showed me…must cut down on the rosehip tea!
CHAN LEE PENG | Oct 18, 2009 | Reply
I learnt something useful from you. Thanks for your lesson.
loveyoutodeath | Oct 18, 2009 | Reply
I hope that this article will encourage more people to think out of the box next time they need healing. Well put together, Mr. Ghaz!
Sherry Wallace | Oct 18, 2009 | Reply
I loved this article, mrghaz. I believe in some natural remedies. My husband uses an alternative doctor. He uses only natural remedies and has been in very good health, even at the age of 65.
Excellent pictures too, mrghaz.
Pete Macinta | Oct 19, 2009 | Reply
Aye! I take herbs too. Haven’t had medication for years.
NSMasry | Oct 21, 2009 | Reply
very interesting article..another great health tips..I liked it! ..nice read as well..Well done Mr Ghaz! Thank you
hollynoel001 | Nov 1, 2009 | Reply
natural remedies and traditional medicine can go hand in hand if only people would open their minds more thanks for the information!!
Fred Lipsky | Nov 23, 2009 | Reply
Great Article… natural remedies are finally making their way into M.D.s offices. Checkout this new (been safely consumed for 3 decades now)… http://apink.stemtechbiz.com
this really really works!