Julie wrote:

'I'd like to
think that nature provides us all the remedies we need in plants, but I do
believe that we can improve on nature by purifying and providing fixed
doses'

While purifying herbs may achieve some things that herbs on their own
cannot we need to be careful when we attempt to thwart nature.  Modern
allopathic medicines are not concentrations of herb properties but
synthetic copies.  This can often make them dangerous.  No-one has ever
died using herbal medicines int he prescribed doses when given by someone
qualified but some people die from things such as taking simple
antibiotics.

I knew a mother who was prescribed a topical ointment for a rash by her
doctor and her breastfed baby ended up in hospital on the brink of death
needing an exchange transfusion.  these synthetic copies of herbal
properties are very toxic.  Herbs too can be dangerous but that is why they
are used in consultation with a qualified practitioner.  The people with
dropsy refered to would probably have had no problems with doseage had they
worked under the guidance of someone qualified.  IMHO it is questionable
whether people with conditions that are incompatible with life and need all
the chemical aids to just survive should be sustained artificially as it
does go against nature - but then I realise it is not my place to judge
this matter and yes, I do have experience in this regard with a very cloe
family member.  ( I'm sure someone will have somethinig to say about this
that is different to my philosophising).

Anyway, what I am basically trying to say is that i don't think nature can
be improved on without unfavourable consequences for some people and herbal
medicine has always been safe when used in conjunction with someone who can
safely use them.

Love, Judy.
--
Judy Grundy
email: [log in to unmask]
WWW: http://www.cs.waikato.ac.nz/~jgrundy/judy.html