Integrative / Conventional / Traditional / Alternative Medicine

The meaning of the word "Herb" by definition is as follows:
A plant with a soft stem containing little wood, especially one of the aromatic plants used in medicine or as seasoning or scent.

Thank goodness, even in this day of high-tech drugs, plants and herbs continue to serve as potent and powerful healing agents. In the United States, about one-fourth of all prescriptions contain active ingredients from plants. The other three-quarters of prescriptions contain highly refined chemical concentrates of active components originally derived from and based on various "natural" sources.

For decades, plant-based medications such as Digitalis (from the herb foxglove) for the heart and Quinine (from the bark of the Cinchona tree) for malaria have been saving lives. Joining them are newer drugs such as Taxol, a potent cancer therapy derived from the Pacific Yew. 

Even your corner drugstore holds an herbal pot pouri of familiar remedies - from mentholated cough drops (derived from mint) to psyllium laxatives and witch hazel - all three contain real or synthesized plant substances. Plant based medicines offer real promise and are the original Traditional medicines of mankind, as ProgressiveDoctors.com knows first hand.

For most of us, the mention of Herbs conjures up plants with names such as lavender and goldenseal, brewed up in teas and used in tinctures. Many of these plants have a long history of use, described in the folklore of various cultures and have been tested and proven for many generations.

Orthodox scientific research, more often than not, proves that the old-time herbalists were on the right track.
Most drugs (except animal derived hormones) were "discovered" as a result of the scientific follow-up, with subsequent isolation of many active ingredients within well known plants often used in various traditional medicine cultures.

At ProgressiveDoctors.com, we will vigorously strive to continue the time tested heritage of melding science with nature. It just makes good common sense.