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well i just thing that sociaty today is becoming more afraid and they fear for themselves so i just thing they need to open up a little but this is strange coming from some one who hates to have company of more than 2 people(i am wierd) they just need to look around, oh and another reason, with all the things that are happening in the world people can not be trusted i also think that people are very ignorant

Also, keep in mind that many times herbal remedies are abused as "failsafe" "totally safe" "completely harmless", when in fact they can have very real issues. Admittedly, they can be safer when taken as directed, but oftentimes an herbal healer is accused of being a "quack" or "snake oil salesman" because before herbs became a scientific study, it was very common to find an herb being sold as a panacea- when in fact, it was not. Foxglove, for instance, was given to cure everything from dropsy (congestive heart failure) for which it worked, all the way down to upset stomachs, headaches, and a poor love life.

When something isn't thoroughly documented as safe, then people grow frightened. Standardizing has made herbal medicine much more "new-user friendly" because now they believe that what they take is checked out and safe.

Admittedly, sometimes that's not true- but sometimes it just takes some technical terms to make someone feel safer.

I think part of the problem is that people have come to expect a quick fix for everything. Herbal medicine sometimes works as a quick fix, like ginger for nausea, but really it's more about taking care of yourself before you get sick and treating injuries by allowing your body to take care of itself. People don't want you to tell them that taking certain herbs can help but that they also have to take care of their body's other needs for it to really help them. People know that taking care of themselves better (eating better/excersize) will help all their problems and make them feel better all around, so maybe they think that when herbalists say they have to take herbs in conjunction with diet, they sort of think the herbalist is full of it, because of course a better diet will make them feel better, but it's not a quick fix. The way that our society is, at least in the U.S., it is getting easier to eat healthy, there are more organic markets and such, but really people just don't have the time to always eat healthy. I know personally I have a hard time eating healthy food because I'm not used to it, or not used to the taste. Plus I'm lazy. I mean, why cook dinner when there's a perfectly good can of pringles nearby. But anyways, I also think there's that "hippie" stigma to herbalists and a lot of people don't want to admit an interest because it doesn't fit with their crowd.

That's exactly why herbal medicine has fallen by the wayside. It's not regulated and standardized to the max so people are afraid of it. And with the 'snake oil' salesmen out there, we have reason to fear. How do you know that the herb in that pill really IS mint if that product isnt' regulated? Maybe its' dried grass from someone's lawn that's had a drop of mint oil added to it so you can smell it.

I think the idea of midwives is good, having a personal connection and stuff. But you can have a good personal connection with your doctor too. You just have to find a doctor that sees the person as well as the patient. My doctor who delivered my son this time, (I had him 6 days ago,) was really nice. I only got to see him a couple of times before I had the baby, because he had just gotten back from somewhere (military) but he was really nice, and after he delivered the baby he even came to the hospital the next day to check on me and bring me cookies. He doesn't make me nervous and I really trust him to do what he thinks is best for me as a person. I really don't know how midwives work but I think that for me it isn't that I'd look down on a midwife but more that I have no idea what they know how to do. With a doctor, especially one that I like/trust I know what kind of medical training they've had. And oh yeah... I love herbal medicine but for anyone having a baby.... go for the epideral! I've had one with both kids and they are wonderful. And it's kind of funny afterwards when you can't feel/move your legs very much. I'm glad it's not permanent of course, but it's definetly an interesting experience. This time it was way more noticeable than with my first kid. I could hardly stand for like six hours after.

my family always told me that the epideral hurts you more when you get older, that it starts messing with your body so what ever you do don't take it! confused

They have been brainwashed that chemical medicines are better than natural plants... surprised