2 Natural Herbs vs Medicine John Doe The University of Arizona Global
2
Natural Herbs vs Medicine
John Doe
The University of Arizona Global Campus
PHI103: Informal Logic
Professor John Doe
March 25, 2024
“Natural Herbs vs Medicine”
1.0 Introduction
Different communities share diverse views on natural herbs and drugs for treatment. Both natural herbs and medicines/drugs are used to treat health problems. This area is crucial, as many people opt for alternative therapies; hence, this knowledge will assist them in making informed healthcare choices. On that note, this paper will evaluate whether herbs are better than medicine/drugs.
2.0 Source 1
Zhang, Y., Lyu, C., Fong, S. Y. Y., Koon, H. W., & Fung, K. P. (2021). Evaluation of potential herb-drug interactions between oseltamivir and commonly used anti-influenza Chinese medicinal herbs. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 267, 113541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113541
2.1 Summary
The study by Zhang et al. (2021) aims to determine whether herb-drug interactions between oseltamivir, a usual antiviral medication used for influenza therapy, and commonly used anti-influenza Chinese medicinal herbs exist. Scholars have investigated the metabolic process and permeation of oseltamivir and its effectiveness. They identified compounds such as Ixeris radicals, which increased the metabolism, while Sophora japonica compounds had a similar increasing effect on the permeability of oseltamivir. The authors explain that the interactions of oseltamivir with the herbs under discussion could influence the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir when this oseltamivir is prescribed in combination with those herbal remedies. They point to the need for follow-up studies in vivo, considering these results, and emphasize the importance of observing herb-drug interactions in clinical practice during their implementation.
2.2 Presentation of an Argument
Premise 1: Some Chinese medicines for influenza virus treatment include Scutellaria baicalensis and Polygonum cuspidatum, which greatly enhance oseltamivir’s metabolism.
Premise 2: Flavors like the Indigo Weasel ear and the Japanese honeysuckle enhance drug permeability.
Premise 3: Herb-drug interactions that potentially affect the efficacy and safety of conventional drugs when used simultaneously.
Conclusion: After the test of Chinese medicinal herbs, which were found to interact with oseltamivir, its effectiveness and safety may be affected when taken together with these herbs. However, more in vivo tests should be used to confirm these results.
2.3 Evaluation
The argument that Zhang et al. (2021) make is based on their in vitro experiments. The scientists revealed the effects of some medicinal Chinese herbs on the metabolism and permeation of oseltamivir on the efficacy and safety of patients. The authors depict the importance of herb-drug interactions. Oseltamivir metabolism and permeability can effectively impact therapeutic efficacy and safety if combined with the tested herbs. Additionally, the authors emphasize the necessity of further in vivo studies to support the vitro studies. The study’s main limitation is that herb-drug interactions are measured or assessed to determine whether they can cause serious health risks for patients. Future research may investigate further the overall impact of oseltamivir interactions and their influence on efficacy and safety.
3.0 Source 2
Silveira, D., Prieto-Garcia, J. M., Boylan, F., Estrada, O., Fonseca-Bazzo, Y. M., Jamal, C. M., Magalhães, P. O., Pereira, E. O., Tomczyk, M., & Heinrich, M. (2020). COVID-19: Is there evidence for using herbal medicines as adjuvant symptomatic therapy? Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 581840. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.581840
3.1 Summary
This article evaluates the application of herbal drugs as additive therapy for patients with COVID-19 symptoms. The authors relied on a literature review of herbal medications used in COVID-19 and related viral respiratory infections such as SARS, MERS, and influenza. Only a few studies showed that medicinal herbs such as Glycyrrhiza glabra, Andrographis paniculata, and Echinacea purpurea alleviate viral respiratory infections. On the other hand, they indicate that the data are still preliminary and that there needs to be more abundant evidence of successful clinical trials of herbal medicine regarding COVID-19. The article recommends focusing more on the ability of natural substances to treat diseases.
3.2 Arguments
Premise 1: Herbs like Glycyrrhiza glabra, Andrographis paniculata, or Echinacea purpurea have positively influenced viral infection.
Premise 2: The efficacy and safety of herbal remedies in connection to the COVID-19 pandemic still need to be determined due to the absence of specific clinical trials.
Premise 3: The coronavirus pandemic brought doubts into crisis management regarding efficacious and safe therapeutics that can alleviate the symptoms and enhance the patient’s health.
Conclusion: Some herbal medicines can show promising potential coupled with symptomatic treatments for the coronavirus; nonetheless, more research, together with clinical trials, is essential for ascertaining their efficiency and safety and characterizing their active compounds and mechanism of action.
3.3 Evaluation
Silveira et al. (2020) show the possibilities of herbal meds to cure or improve viral respiratory patients’ conditions. The article triggers more thoughts about using them in the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the authors emphasize the need for clinical trials to determine the efficacy of the herbs. They discuss the severity of the current COVID-19 pandemic and the requirement for an efficient symptom management system. The concluding thought is, therefore, rooted in the two premises that have formed the basis for the reasoning. A balanced review of the use of herbal medicines in managing COVID-19 infections has been provided while keeping in mind the need for further research. Besides, the author’s call for more clinical trials and the need for rigorous studies demonstrate that they want an evidence-based practice and are aware of the present gaps in the knowledge.
4.0 Source 3
Panyod, S., Ho, C. T., & Sheen, L. Y. (2020). Dietary therapy and herbal medicine for COVID-19 prevention: A review and perspective. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 10(4), 420-427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2020.05.004
4.1 Summary
Panyod et al. (2020) explored diet therapy and herbal medicine options for preventing COVID-19. The authors emphasized the role of nutrition in maintaining immune efficacy and co-benefits of some dietary components. The nutrients provide antiviral and immunomodulatory effects, including vitamins C and D, zinc, and probiotics. The authors review contemporary nutrition studies of herbs traditionally used to treat viral respiratory illnesses, such as Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Isatis indigotica. They posit that in addition to dietary therapy, herbal medicine could be part of the preventive approaches for the prevention of COVID-19, thereby lowering the risk and limiting the infection rate. However, they emphasize research to ascertain the safety of these approaches to fight COVID-19.
4.2 Argument for Presentation 3
Premise 1: Foods rich in vitamins C and D, zinc, and probiotics increase immune function and, consequently, reduce the risk and severity of viral respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
Premise 2: Herbal remedies, including Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Isatis indigotica, have been used for centuries to treat respiratory viral infections, and several studies show these natural medicines contain antiviral and immunoregulation properties.
Premise 3: A combined dietary therapy with herbal medicine as a preventive strategy for COVID-19 may be effective because of its ability to lower the risk and severity of infection.
Conclusion: Additional studies should be conducted. Adding these interventions to existing strategies for preventive action could reduce the risk and severity of infections. Therefore, establishing these evidence-based procedures for countering COVID-19 is necessary.
4.3 Evaluation
Panyod et al. (2020) combine traditional knowledge with modern research, showing the advantages of diet therapies and herbal medicines for respiratory viral infections. The authors focus on the importance of specific food elements for the immune system defense mechanism, vital in preventing COVID-19. The authors support their arguments with results and related references to experiments to provide evidence regarding the immunomodulatory effects of these nutrients. The article also takes the traditional use and the modern research of natural medicine as its second premise. Notably, the authors demonstrate in experimental studies that antiviral and immunomodulatory effects are vital to be considered preventive measures. Conversely, the third premise implies incorporating nutritional treatments and herbal medicines into intervention measures for COVID-19 control. To some extent, however, this projection should not be based on facts but on critical thinking, revealing that the previous suppositions can naturally lead to that claim. Finally, further studies are required to prove that dietary treatment and natural medicine are effective and safe to treat COVID-19. While addressing one of the primary concerns, the authors highlight the significance of manufacturing regulations and guidelines, underscoring their concern to ensure responsible use.
Discussion of Research on the Topic
Research on the issue of whether natural herbs are better than medicines/drugs yields non-comprehensive results. While finding popular and scholarly sources on this topic was not difficult, given that it is intriguing and provokes discussion, ascertaining an answer is tricky. Most sources supported the idea that natural herbs are effective and, most likely, better than medicine/drugs; however, one can notice that these sources were cautious in claiming, in non-ambiguous terms, the superiority of natural herbs over medicines. There can be one primary reason for this: medical outcomes are complex and depend on various factors. In many cases, medical outcomes are seemingly controllable by natural herbs. At the same time, there are complicated cases where risk management demands that medicines/drugs be adopted to ensure efficacy (Foster et al., 2023). This way, more experimental research is required to answer the research question regarding natural herbs vs. medicines/drugs. In straightforward terms, this experimental research would establish the paths of action and required context for applying natural herbs, enabling widescale adoption. With widescale adoption, one can expect the true potential of natural herbs to surface because it will enhance collective wisdom and research underlying its practical application.
Evaluation of Scholarly vs. Non-Scholarly Arguments
One can note a marked difference in the quality of arguments from scholarly sources compared to non-scholarly sources. The quality of an argument depends on two things: evidence and accuracy. Evidence means the proof the authors give for their claims. In contrast, the accuracy relates to the specific word choices and statements the authors make, which must be as close to the proof and reality as possible. Regarding scholarly sources, the authors are cautious. They gather evidence extensively and then try to make a conscientious, tentative claim. On the other hand, the non-scholarly sources that were gathered and analyzed for the Week 1 task use less evidence and make preemptive conclusions. Nevertheless, there is a point of influence where the non-scholarly sources explain their arguments better than the scholarly ones. These popular sources connect their content with day-to-day matters of medical complexity, explaining how and when natural herbs may be more or less effective than medicines/drugs. It keeps the readers engaged, an essential aspect of practical argumentation.
Conclusion
The three scholarly resources reveal that herbs are better than medications in some health scenarios compared to drugs, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also show the possible beneficial effects of herbal remedies such as antiviral, immunomodulatory, and symptom-relieving, highlighting the need for the studies of these herbal remedies to be conducted with high-quality standards to confirm the effectiveness and safety of these herbal medicines. Ultimately, herb-drug interactions support the notion that healthcare professionals must be aware of and investigate the possible interactions of herbs and drugs in clinical practice.
References
Foster, C., Hardy, J., & Zúñiga y Postigo, G. (2023). With good reason: A guide to critical thinking. The University of Arizona Global Campus.
Panyod, S., Ho, C. T., & Sheen, L. Y. (2020). Dietary therapy and herbal medicine for COVID-19 prevention: A review and perspective. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 10(4), 420–427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2020.05.004
Silveira, D., Prieto-Garcia, J. M., Boylan, F., Estrada, O., Fonseca-Bazzo, Y. M., Jamal, C. M., Magalhães, P. O., Pereira, E. O., Tomczyk, M., & Heinrich, M. (2020). COVID-19: Is there evidence for using herbal medicines as adjuvant symptomatic therapy? Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, 581840. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.581840
Zhang, Y., Lyu, C., Fong, S. Y. Y., Koon, H. W., & Fung, K. P. (2021). Evaluation of potential herb-drug interactions between oseltamivir and commonly used anti-influenza Chinese medicinal herbs. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 267, 113541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.113541