Saturday, December 13, 2014

Starting a Herbal Medicine Business

Herbal Medicine | Small Business IdeasHerbalism ("herbology" or "herbal medicine") is use of plants for medicinal purposes, and the study of such use. Plants have been the basis for medical treatments through much of human history, and such traditional medicine is still widely practiced today. Modern medicine recognizes herbalism as a form of alternative medicine, as the practice of herbalism is not strictly based on evidence gathered using the scientific method. Modern medicine, does, however, make use of many plant-derived compounds as the basis for evidence-tested pharmaceutical drugs, and physiotherapy works to apply modern standards of effectiveness testing to herbs and medicines that are derived from natural sources. The scope of herbal medicine is sometimes extended to include fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts.


The time has come to share the wonders of herbal medicine with the world. Too much money has been spent and precious time has been lost in blindly following the rut of allopathic medicine, even when there are many more powerful, safe and cost effective herbal cures available.

The West is now waking up to the curative properties and almost magical properties of herbal medicine.


Modern herbal medicine

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 80 percent of the population of some Asian and African countries presently use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. Pharmaceuticals are prohibitively expensive for most of the world's population, half of which lived on less than $2 U.S. per day in 2002. In comparison, herbal medicines can be grown from seed or gathered from nature for little or no cost.

Many of the pharmaceuticals currently available to physicians have a long history of use as herbal remedies, including opium, aspirin, digitalis, and quinine. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 25% of modern drugs used in the United States have been derived from plants. At least 7,000 medical compounds in the modern pharmacopoeia are derived from plants. Among the 120 active compounds currently isolated from the higher plants and widely used in modern medicine today, 80% show a positive correlation between their modern therapeutic use and the traditional use of the plants from which they are derived.

These are gleaned from the Oriental cultures prevalent in China, India and Japan, which were pioneering cultures on the field of herbal medicine and its immense therapeutic potential. In the West, ancient Greece and Rome were the centers of medicine and the origins of medicine were essentially herbal. The advent of synthetic and organic molecules came much later.

It is still amazing to find out that medical science, as we know it is still focusing on treating symptoms rather than the root cause of ailments. The symptom could be alleviated, but if there is no curative solution for the cause, problems could recur. This is where herbal medicines are of use, as the solutions provided are deeply curative and natural with no side effects.

Starting herbal medicine business requires acquisition of lots of knowledge on the topic. As people’s health and life is involved, one has to become a master or expert on herbal medicine so as not to endanger life. While one does not necessarily need to become a doctor, more than a passing knowledge of the nature of herbal cures is absolutely essential.

Tie Ups: Tying up with an expert in herbal medicines could be one way of starting and growing herbal medicines business. Such a medical affiliation would be the gateway to business as the medical practitioner could treat and you could supply the medicines.

Vendors: if you are in the US, typing up with reliable and honest vendors is of prime importance. If you plan to source medicines from the Far East (India or China), it would make sense to check out on the credibility of the vendors personally. Regular quality check on medicines is essential to build and maintain your own credibility.

Marketing: Once you have the product mix ready, you can advertise your services or just gain business by word of mouth. This is also where tying up with a reputed herbal medical practitioner can come in handy. You can set up a dedicated website to reach out to those looking out for herbal remedies and popularize your offering.

Take for example Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of medicine. This is a holistic medical science where various aspects of the person are considered before any herbal medication is prescribed. Ayurveda views the individual as a whole, composed of mind, body and spirit and does not unduly focus on only the ailment. The medicines prescribed in Ayurveda are natural and non-toxic. These have deep healing and curative properties that can tackle chronic conditions too.

The herbal medicine business truly represents an enormous opportunity in the modern age. When people lose hope from so-called modern medical science, where can they turn to? Herbal medicine truly holds out a ray of hope to suffering millions. If you want to serve society while also building up a satisfying and profitable business, herbal medicine business is certainly the way to go!


Reference

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