Essential oils, homeopathic medicine and herbal remedies hold an impressive title when it comes to healing illnesses. Many people are realizing healthier alternatives to medications that doctors will prescribe in a hurry. Antibiotics, among other drugs, have been one of the most prescribed band-aid approaches to conditions that may have a much simpler fix. Diagnosing conditions takes time and focus, something health care has lost to meet production goals for the day. As people begin to take more control over the direction of their health care, they are realizing there are healthier options to treat their bodies that also won’t cause long-term damage.

Essential oils have become more popular to people’s everyday lifestyle and for a good reason. Essential oils are small extracts of plant life, including fruits, flowers, leaves and wood. These extractions are the “essential”, or healing properties, of the associated vegetation. There are countless types of essential oils that can help manage different conditions ranging from a minor skin rash to a complex cancer. The advantage of essential oils is they run through the body flawlessly without causing any unwanted side effects.

For example, chlorhexidine is a common, post-surgical antibiotic rinse. Many times, this rinse would be recommended after having a tooth extracted. This rinse is not biocompatible with the body due to its abrasive properties, and side effects of a toxic amount of chlorhexidine can include nausea. So, why is this product exposed to highly absorptive tissues inside the mouth? Recommending a plant-derived essential oil, such as tea tree, clove or eucalyptus can prove to be a superior form of patient care as it removes the chance of harmful side effects while still treating an inflamed tooth extraction site.

Similar to essential oils, individuals can also turn to herbal remedies. Anxiety and stomach discomfort are common problems many people deal with daily. Instead of managing an anxious mind with a drug known as benzodiazepines, known to cause side effects such as disorientation and depression, something as simple as drinking chamomile tea before sleeping can improve anxiety in some people. When it comes to stomach pains, rather than drinking a large amount of Pepto Bismol, which can worsen stomach discomfort and even cause impairment with hearing, ginger can be taken as a remedy to treat nausea and improve gastrointestinal function. Approaching certain conditions with an herbal remedy first may save a person from intensifying present symptoms and creating new ones.

Over the years, health care has grown comfortable with pharmaceuticals as a universal treatment for countless people. Taking the time to treat patients correctly should be occurring more in hospital and dental practice settings. Patients themselves should also take the time to learn about themselves and take charge of their care. If not, the public will continue to consume unnecessary toxins over the span of a lifetime. By being able to use a remedy that Earth has provided for us is a gift, and it should be considered more.