Canada and the use of Aboriginals Herbal Remedies

Muslimah Khanum
12/22/17

The modern trend of herbal remedies has sprung from all its usage throughout indigenous and
native American history.
Native American herbs range from everyday household medication to special ceremonies, rituals and
weddings/funerals. Canada has recognized Native American herbs as an alternative medicine or natural
remedy product.
The Aboriginal people practiced the planting of food crops in different fertile regions, they often
did companion planting where crops that were planted together supported each other in growth and
nutrition. Crops included the “Three Sisters” which were corn, beans and squash they were always
planted together (Turner, Anarson, Hebda, & T., 2012).
Just like they were used for food, they also planted medicinal herbs, specialist oversaw using the
herbs to cure diseases and to maintain health, herbs came in many forms such as teas, chews, vapours
etc.
An example of these herbal medicines being in use is in the winter of 1553-36 when Jacque
Cartier men were cured of scurvy with a tea high in Vitamin C possibly made from eastern white pine
(Turner, Anarson, Hebda, & T., 2012) they were treated by the St. Lawrence Iroquoians of Stadacona.
In Aboriginals a medicine wheel is a very important part in the healing process, as it is a sign of
linking the 4 very sacred parts of life, health and values. The number 4 is very important to Aboriginals, in
the medicine wheel it has 4 directions representing the 4 seasons, 4 properties of health (spiritual,
mental, physical and emotional) as well as the 4 scared herbs that are important to Aboriginal culture
(Canadian Cancer Society All Rights Reserved, n.d.).
The 4 herbs commonly and most scared are Tobacco, Sweetgrass, Cedar and Sage, these herbs
were also incorporated into their traditional diet and these diets may be recommended by Aboriginal
Healers, many believe the western diet is unhealthy because of all the sugar, fat and white flour being
used and they also believe going back to the traditional diets will help restore harmony and balance
(Canadian Cancer Society All Rights Reserved, n.d.).
The difference between western healing and Aboriginal herbal healing is that the western type
solely on the physical aspects while the latter focuses on everything inside and out and that healing isn’t
just a quick fix, but it is a process and a journey for both your physical and spiritual states alike.
(McKenna, 2015). Even though people today search high and low for exotic plants that have amazing
healing benefits they forget that the most important and sacred herbs are right there in their own
country.
Herbal remedies and their unproven health claims
Muslimah Khanum
12/22/17

Just like any health product you would see in stores, herbal remedies are on the same when it
comes to unproven health. Whether its mental or physical health claims if they do not prove with solid
evidence and facts they are deemed unsafe upon inspection and are not allowed on the shelves of
stores.
Yet there are some that do not pass or go through the drug review process and are still seen on
the shelves of health stores, many companies that produce these remedies fail to mention the side
effects as well.
This makes many remedies a double threat to unknowing consumers who seem to use the herbs without
consulting a health practitioner, it is reported that at least 70% of people taking herbal medicine are
reluctant to tell their doctor they are using alternative medicines (University of Maryland Medical
Center, 2015).
CBCNEWS reported that an expert says many ginseng-based (a very popular herb) cold remedy
claims unproven, one of the specialist interviewed said that “there is no science that the specific
combination of herbs in the products that are going to able to treat the common colds and flus”.
Health Canada is always reviewing claims of the products, specialist suggests consumers aren’t
questioning the products being bought and if the claims on the labels are legit enough. When they have a
small cold, they search online for the best and easy solution usually home remedies involving common
herbs are the one of the most common search results.

The regulation in Canada has strengthened over the years from the factory it facility to the herb ’s
quality, but they are still not regulated as drugs as it is in Europe. Health Canada also does post -market
monitoring to make sure regulations are being followed (Canada, 2016). The unproven claims which can
lead people to use the wrong products resulting in serious conditions to appear or have a delay in proper
treatment. It is reported that 12% of Canadians that use herbal/natural health products have unwanted
side effects, like allergic reactions (Canada, 2016).
The lack of drug regulation on herbal remedies and consumers’ opposition to add herbal remedies
to the drug regulation laws shows how blind many users are to this type of mediation.
The widespread trend of “the more natural the better”
Muslimah Khanum
12/22/17

Following the trend of going vegan or being a minimalist, people see using herbal or natural
remedies as a trend to cleanse yourself of chemicals and impurities just as how people go on cleansing
diets. Rather than the chemically engineered ones that have been tested and proven by specialist and
has gone through the drug review process, they think the pills are causing more harm to their body than
just healing physically.
Many are accusing the natural medicine users of backwards thinking, and that it disrespects the
effort and research that has been put in to make medicine much more effective than it used to be ever
since the medical revolution. As stated before the remedies show many side effects and there is a risk of
overdosing is the product does not state the dosage which is against the regulations (Canada, 2016).
Many now knowing that todays medicine are derived of botanical ingredients want to limit the
chemical intake, going back to the roots, which can be incorporated into their daily diet. But there is
possible poising from the plants just as there can be poisoning form chemical drugs, many argue herbal
medicine should be an alternative and not to be treated as a main procedure to treat illnesses.
Antioxidants have become popular in forms of drinks, vapours, pills to get rid or reduce the toxic
agents in their body from other drugs (Karimi, Majlesi, & Rafieian-Kopaei, 2015). Synthetic or chemical
medicine targets the direct symptoms almost immediately and relieves pain, this method can be easily
understood pathologist and pharmaceuticals. The down side of chemical/synthetic medicine is that it
does not aid in any psychological or spiritual healing which is needed may require separate medication,
that could cause an additional spiritual or mental stress.
Herbal remedies on the other hand doesn’t directly heal, rather it acts as a guide and support the
bodies on the healing process (Karimi, Majlesi, & Rafieian-Kopaei, 2015). Rather, it targets everything
that may seem necessary for a treatment of illnesses to physical illness as well as healing the spirit and
mind that may have been through its own illness.
Reason why many would consider herbal medicine over the chemical ones because they do not
need to stress about different pills that helps them in different parts of the illness, while the herbs taken
in small dosages merely aid the natural healing process, giving the whole body some peace after
recovering from certain illnesses keeping in mind that it cannot cure cancer as it is not as powerful as
synthetic or chemical medicine.
Should herbal remedies be considered a drug like pharmaceuticals?
Muslimah Khanum
12/22/17

As stated before from before the reason people use this alternate medicine is because it is
natural, and they fear what the chemical medicine may be doing to their body. Though that it also
perked the curiosity of scientists who do not understand the complexity of various herbal ingredients, so
they began to tamper with the chemical compounds of the plants. Soon they modified the plants, so they
grow much faster, bigger and are more effective once they enter the body.
Now today, these herbal or natural medicine go out with some sort of chemical/genetic
modification, of course this happens only to satisfy the consumer demands of the plants , though they do
not know that there are chemicals in these ‘all-natural plants’. Of course, don’t confuse the natural
chemical compound of the plants with the tampered and human modified chemicals that are entering
the plant are not native or produced by the plant.
Herbs have nutritional value like vitamins and minerals that support human metabolism, unlike
the chemically produced drugs they made with toxins that provide no nutritional value, as they also
release toxins to fight the illnesses any herbs used for medicinal purposes are considered drugs just like
marijuana.
Both need the risks and benefits assessed, although there is enough research on the chemical or
synthetic drugs as for the research on Herbal medicine there is little to none. Herbs are typically
marketed based on tradition and anecdote with not enough scientific research on the efficiency a nd
safety of the herbs (Novella, 2008).
Many argue that herbs should not be and are not considered drugs, they may have medicinal
effects, but they can also be used as food or food additives, whether it be ginger in your curry , garlic,
even culinary herbs such as basil, oregano, cumin; even if they hold chemical or medicinal value they
should not be considered a drug as they are used in everyday life.
“Herbal constituents are not drugs until removed from their biochemical milieu, isolated and
purified many, many times beyond their natural occurrence” said a reader who argued back that herbs
are not drugs on Dr. Novella’s article, stating the few distinct herbs such as cannabis, coffee, coca
contains the chemicals that can be considered drug-like properties (Novella, 2008), but at some point, in
history the herbs have been added or used in the human diet. It Is irrational to s ay the entire continuum
of herbal remedies are drugs because of the more ‘extreme herbs’.
Herbs can be regulated as drugs based on the region look in Europe; herbal medicine/remedies
are regulated as drugs therefore must go through the same review and in spection process as synthetic
drugs, but if you look at Canada it is recognized as ‘natural health product’ (Canada, 2016) not a food or
drug.
Doctors and physicians don’t consider herbal remedies as medicine to treat
illnesses.
Muslimah Khanum
12/22/17

Ever since the chemical and medical revolution in the 1900s, many scientist and practitioners
have invested their time and effort into creating new and innovative medicine while having it cost-
effective, they abandoned the natural herbs and turned to chemicals.
Soon doctors have forgotten the roots of practically every medicine, now the lack of studies show
they aren’t sure of the specific ingredients in herbs, that could also contribute to why many physicians
are very hesitant to prescribe herbal remedies/medicine to their patients, or they would usually
recommend going to a natural healer/naturalist/herbalist. It is noted that ¼ pharmaceutical drugs are
derived of herbs and plants, mostly made with compacted and purified chemicals (University of Maryland
Medical Center, 2015).
Doctors want medicine that has long-term effects that have been proven by scientific evidence,
though parents when raising a child, they want what is healthy and more natural for the child. It gets
worrisome when kids are prescribed with heavy drugs to treat asthma, early arthritis, or certain illnesses.
Canadians spend at least $2.4 billion a year on health product with most products having little
evidence to back up the claim (Grundig, 2015). A professor at the University of Toronto had stated that
the Health Canada “has created a loophole through which manufacturers can sell a product with implied
health benefits without having to obtain the supporting scientific evidence” (Grundig, 2015).
But doesn’t the history of indigenous people even in the ancient times of herbs being used be
enough evidence, although our bodies do change since it has gotten used to chemicals treating our
bodies, it doesn’t change the fact the herbs with traditional and homeopathic evidence s how that herbal
remedies/ medicine can be used to treat illnesses just as well as synthetic medicine. Then why are the
doctors still hesitant, even AID clinics are using herbal remedies to treat symptoms many reported that
they were given the alternative medicine with no side effects to report (Kozyrskyj, 1997).
Though the debate of ‘should herbal remedies be considered a drug’ has most likely put the
doctors on edge of having to prescribe such medication, also the patient must be more aware of certain
consequences of having the remedies.
Instead of going to your regular health practitioner, it is best to go to an herbalist who is an
expert in both types of medicine knowing the what dosage to take and the specific ingredient in the
medicine. Many pharmaceuticals do not study on the plants/herbs that have been used in the past
because it has become a totally separate career and topic. It should have been incorporated or stayed
together with the making and chemical aspects of synthetic medicine that we use today, then it wouldn’t
have become such a ‘joke’.
Works Cited
Canada. (2016, March 14). About Natural Health Products. Retrieved from Canada.ca:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/natural-non-
prescription/regulation/about-products.html

Canadian Cancer Society All Rights Reserved. (n.d.). Aboriginal traditional healing. Retrieved from Canadian Cancer
Society: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/diagnosis-and-treatment/complementary-
therapies/aboriginal-traditional-healing/?region=on

Grundig, T. (2015, March 12). Health Canana liceinsing of natural remedies 'a joke', doctors says. Retrieved from
CBCnews: http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/health-canada-licensing-of-natural-remedies-a-joke-doctor-says-
1.2992414

Karimi, A., Majlesi, M., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2015, January 1). Herbal versus synthetic drugs; belief and facts. Retrieved
from US National Library of Medicine : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5297475/

Kozyrskyj, A. (1997, April). Herbal Products in Canada: How Safe are They. Retrieved from Canadian Family Physician:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2255469/

McKenna, C. (2015, April 24). Aboriginal Medicine. Retrieved from alive: https://www.alive.com/health/aboriginal-
medicine/

Novella, S. (2008, January 2). The Plant vs Pharmaceutical False Dichotomy. Retrieved from Science-Based Medicine:
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-plant-vs-pharmaceutical-false-dichotomy/

Turner, N. J., Anarson, J., Hebda, R. J., & T., J. (2012, January 18). Indigenous Peopls: Uses of Plants. Retrieved from The
Canadian Encyclopedia: http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/plants-native-uses/

University of Maryland Medical Center. (2015, November 6). Herbal Medicine. Retrieved from University Maryland
Medical Center: http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/herbal-medicine