Myths And Truths Of Ancient Natural Remedies
Learn how controversial ancient natural remedies advanced our knowledge of healing.
In my many publications, I emphasize the wisdom of ancient healing arts and specifically, natural remedies.
Why am I focused on natural remedies? Modern medicine is rushed, tends to be invasive and radical; prescription drugs come with the risk of numerous side effects. Traditional medicine is safe, conservative, and in many cases, better for the patient.
I believe that great medicine should be a balance of the best in modern and traditional medicine. As it’s the case today, modern medicine took over and discarded traditional healing arts, entirely.
I have no horse in this race other than the best interest of the patient. Not all modern medical treatments have the patient’s best interest or long-term wellness in mind while the safe natural treatment options are rarely – if ever – recommended by physicians.
Wisdom is timeless and no wisdom should be disregarded. Especially, if it has proven itself useful over generations. And the ancient healing traditions have roots reaching antiquity.
The other day I delved into some EXTREME ancient natural remedies and culinary traditions. The outcome surprised me: albeit in modernized form, their wisdom survived the test of time and remains valid.
We all know stories, gossip, fairy tales, and even horrifying news reports about animal cruelty committed in the name of “healing”. There are tales of killing and torturing animals to obtain specific body parts or organs for their alleged healing properties.
Let’s take a look at a few examples of controversial natural remedies from today’s perspective:
Myths And Truths Of Ancient Natural Remedies
Myth and truth: therapeutic properties of Shark Fins
Myth and truth: therapeutic properties of Sheep Tail Fat
Myth and truth: therapeutic properties of Whale Fat
Myth and truth: therapeutic properties of Bloodletting
These – of course! – these are only some of the most outrageous “highlights”. Having explored the claims behind some of these controversial ancient remedies, I have to agree they have some merit.
Am I defending barbaric acts committed in the hope of obtaining alleged health benefits? Absolutely not! But old traditions are like smoke and as the adage has it, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Even the strange and unusual natural ancient remedies have value. Does it mean that we should return to the past, hunt, kill and destroy in pursuit of better health? NO! But I believe that we can and should learn from any source of valuable information without prejudice. The reasoning behind ancient and ethnic natural remedies derived from animals is not without merit. It proves that even without the formal knowledge of chemistry and medicine, our ancestors had a pretty good understanding of the healing arts.
Myth and truth: therapeutic properties of Shark Fins
Historically: The Chinese ascribed – and still do – miraculous therapeutic properties to shark fins. According to the Chinese, a soup made of shark fins is a cure-for-all ill. It allegedly has the power to prevent heart disease, cure cancer, improve virility and skin texture, extend lifespan, and more.
Therapeutic properties of shark fins: The Chinese were right about the healing powers of… fish collagen. They are also right that it is best absorbed when served in form of a broth / soup. With that said, the exquisite benefits of fish collagen / broth / soup are not unique to shark fins.
We do not know whether shark fin soup was ever a cure-for-all but we know that it isn’t – and can’t be – a cure for anything, now. The high levels of mercury in sharks – and by extension, shark fins – today make them toxic and unfit for human consumption.
Modern alternative: Making a soup of any fatty fish with bones, tail, and fins renders similar health benefits. Just make sure that the fish of your choice isn’t contaminated with mercury…. And don’t indulge in any seafood often.
Myth and truth: therapeutic properties of Sheep Tail Fat
Historically: the people in the Middle East and India used the tail fat of Bedouin sheep in the treatment of sciatica, lower back pain, and even broken bones.
Fact: Bedouin Sheep tail fat contains Lipids, fatty acids, essential & nonessential fatty acids, and Omega-3 and 6. (Omega-6 contains Prostaglandin type 1, 2, and 3 which relieve pain and inflammation.)
Therapeutic properties of sheep tail fat: In particular Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) and Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA) – components of Prostaglandin type 1, 2, and 3 – have significant healing properties which are confirmed by today’s science.
Modern alternative: There is no need to kill sheep to obtain the benefits of Prostaglandin.
Components of Prostaglandin, fat-soluble Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA), and Alpha Linoleic Acid (ALA) can be purchased in health food / nutritional supplement stores. The supplements are derived from plant oils today and have benefits compatible with those of sheep tail fat.
Myth and truth: therapeutic properties of Whale Fat
Historically: in several countries and currently in Norway and Japan, it’s believed that whale fat and cartilage have unique and significant health benefits.
Therapeutic properties of whale fat and cartilage: It was believed – and the information is currently propagated by Norway and Japan – that the therapeutic properties of whale fat and cartilage are superior to that of any other sea creature. It is likely considering that a whale is a marine mammal with exceptionally thick blubber (fat layer protecting the whale from temperature changes).
I can’t either prove or disprove the uniqueness of whale fat and cartilage. I can confirm however that the whales are endangered species. No health benefits justify the extinction of any one specie. (Incidentally, dolphins are mammals too and have self-healing properties that amaze scientists. Physical injury to a dolphin’s body – unlike a physical injury to a human body – doesn’t get infected, heals to a level of complete regeneration, and doesn’t appear to cause pain. We are polluting the air, contaminating oceans, we brought about global warming, our military equipment is destroying marine mammals’ hearing. Are we going to decimate dolphins, next?)
Modern alternative: Fish oil is available in health food stores. Chondroitin, sulfate-containing supplements – recommended for osteoarthritis sufferers – are made of either fish or bovine cartilage: choose bovine: Japan currently exports Chondroitin sulfate made of whale cartilage…
Myth and truth: therapeutic properties of Bloodletting
Historically: bloodletting was considered medical treatment for several diseases in ancient Egypt, China, and Greece. With time it became popular worldwide. The practice of bloodletting however was considered controversial. (Incidentally, President George Washington died, at least partially, due to bloodletting.)
Healing properties of bloodletting? None: bloodletting isn’t an effective treatment for the disease.
Therapeutic properties of bloodletting? Modern interpretation: Controlled “bloodletting” – as in donating blood or therapeutic phlebotomy – has health benefits for the donor. (Blood-thinning, rejuvenation, lowering high blood pressure, and more.)
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I unequivocally condemn cruelty in general, including animal cruelty, but it’s hard not to applaud the ancient healing arts. (Our medical and pharmaceutical knowledge developed thanks to countless successful and unsuccessful experiments. Till today, medical and pharmaceutical research continues to be inhumane.) Some of the barbaric, ancient remedies contributed to today’s knowledge and inspired the development of less barbaric alternatives.
Long story short, ancient remedies are not merely the stuff of fairy tales. They are – more and less legitimate – predecessors of still imperfect and often cruel modern medicine. And as such, knowledge of them deserves to be preserved. Some of the ancient knowledge remains useful, some serves as a reminder of human selfishness which – in a more sterile and conceited form – continues today. We didn’t stop being destructive or inhumane mind you, only now healthcare is wearing rubber gloves, calling itself modern, and making billions…
Progress is the product of the on-going accumulation of knowledge. We are in the fortunate position of being able to choose between modern and traditional treatment options. As a society, we don’t condone burning libraries, why is today’s healthcare bent on eradicating and excluding natural remedies that are – in many cases – better and safer than modern medical treatments?
Ridiculing and excluding natural remedies limits the patient’s options. (It’s impossible to make an informed decision WITHOUT being fully informed!) It is equivalent to condemning the foundation of modern medicine. Hello? The official “father” of modern medicine (to whom every physician makes an oath before being allowed to practice medicine) Hippocrates himself used natural remedies in his practice….
Photo credit: aisvri on Unsplash
