Whether you’ve tried an herbal preparation once or twice or you’re practically an herbal expert, as a doctor of chiropractic you may have considered bringing some of these holistic helpers into your practice to complement the hands-on treatments you already give your patients.
In this article, we’ll offer some background information about botanical medicine along with critical thinking points to help you determine how botanical medicine might fit into your style of chiropractic care.
First, what exactly is botanical medicine?
Botanical medicine, also called herbal medicine, is a method of practicing medicine using natural herbs from the earth, such as plant seeds, bark, flowers, berries, leaves and more. Often, botanical medicine is used outside of conventional medicine, but it has become much more mainstream and more widely accepted in the last few years. It makes sense to many healthcare practitioners that the earth’s natural resources can help heal patients, sometimes used in conjunction with an allopathic approach to medicine and sometimes in place of it.
As quality control of herbal supplements improves and more high-quality clinical research about them comes to light, many healthcare providers, including DCs, are turning to some common botanical medicines to complement their care.
Familiar botanicals
A few of the most common herbs and botanical additions currently used in herbal medicine are:
- Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba): Ginkgo, a tree with roots in ancient Chinese medicine, is one of the oldest tree species in the world. Extracts and supplements made from Gingko have reportedly shown anti-arthritic effects because of Ginkgo’s ability to inhibit inflammatory cytokines. It’s rich in antioxidants and can help fight inflammation.
- Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea and related species): Some studies report the alkylamides derived from echinacea can enhance the body’s natural immune response by optimizing white blood cells, aiding in fighting off infection.
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale): Ginger contains a variety of compounds offering anti-inflammatory benefits along with some that can prevent pain-triggering hormones.
- Garlic (Allium sativum): Research suggests garlic also has anti-inflammatory benefits. Garlic contains diallyl disulfide, a compound that helps to limit the impact of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
- St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum): St. John’s wort is one of the most popular herbs for treating mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Though there are no reported effects on direct joint or back pain, depression or anxiety can compound your patients’ other health issues.
- Ginseng (Panax ginseng or Asian ginseng): Ginseng is reported to help fight fatigue and improve cognition and mental alertness.
Does botanical medicine belong in chiropractic?
Ultimately, whether or not botanical medicine belongs in the chiropractic world is up to you and depends on the kind of practice you run and the patients you serve.
Herbal supplements, unlike prescription drugs, can be sold without being tested by the Food and Drug Administration to prove they’re safe and effective because they’re classified as dietary supplements by the U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA 1994). Though there are mandated regulations about how botanical medicine is manufactured and stored, and how it is marketed (companies can’t claim it treats diseases, for example), there’s little other regulation.
That means if botanical medicine is truly something you believe could be a treatment option for your patients, you’ll need to research thoroughly and safely source your botanical medicine as well as disclose to patients all the details of each herbal medicine. Before recommending a supplement, make sure patients tell you about all the other supplements they are taking as well as any prescription drugs so you can check for interactions. Taking fish oil, for example, could be contraindicated in patients taking daily aspirin therapy or certain drugs for cardiovascular conditions.
Potential advantages of including botanical medicine
- Many DCs and other healthcare providers believe combining botanical medicine with chiropractic care can benefit their patients. They believe, when used in conjunction, patients can experience more effective treatment.
- Implementing botanical medicine might open the doors of your practice to a new audience of patients who might otherwise not have visited your office.
- Patients can experience pain relief and other benefits from botanical medicine without the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs, and avoid the potentially harsh side effects of those drugs. Botanicals may also be more affordable and accessible.
Potential disadvantages of including botanical medicine
- Some patients might not want to try herbal medicine because it’s not regulated the way prescription drugs are.
- Herbal medicine may or may not provide the results you’re seeking in your patients.
- The use of herbal medicine might alienate members of your target audience.
- Botanical medicine is a controversial topic that might shine a negative light on your practice in some people’s opinions.
Herbal medicines might have contraindications with other necessary prescription medicines.
Ready to go botanical?
This information is for your benefit – whether that’s just to briefly learn about or enthusiastically implement botanical medicine into your own practice. Whatever your route, we’re here to help. Subscribe to ChiroEco for regular updates on the chiropractic profession.
