Re: Herbs
Bleh… I have the beginnings of an upper respiratory infection that has been felling my clients and co-workers, and I’m bombarding it with the usual voodoo: Echinacea, zinc, and vitamin C. I don’t actually believe any of that stuff really helps, but it can’t hurt.
I have a theory about why people are so into herbalism these days.
People don’t have the time or inclination to go to doctor anymore. We’re too busy, they’re too busy, we have to deal with HMO’s…it sucks. They’d rather just self-diagnose, then pop down to the co-op and buy some Traditional Chinese Medical cure. And don’t forget the endless search for legal, effective, no-side-effects speed and downers.
Herbs are not safe or effective, necessarily. They can (and often do) have toxic side effects, and tend to have varying levels of potency, if they work at all. You really have to know what you’re doing, but people rarely bother to do the research. Not that this is much different in commercial pharmaceuticals, but at least you know a self-trained “herbalist” in a pot-smoke-filled basement isn’t cooking those up.
I don’t believe most people are looking for a more “natural, wholistic way to health”, no matter what they say. I don’t think most people care that much. I think if Lorezapram were available without a prescription, the market for Kava Kava would go the way of tech stocks.
10:07:13 AM 
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