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Is Folk Medicine Dangerous?

Folk medicine refers to the practice of traditional-ethnic ways of treating illnesses apart from recognized, professional, institutionalized medical systems in Western medicine. Usually folk medicine is connected with the specific history, culture, tradition, and beliefs of an ethnic group. Whether or not folk medicine is dangerous continues to be a hot debate.

  1. Negative Reactions with Western Medical Treatment

    • Folk medicine has the potential to neutralize or counteract normal prescribed medicines that a patient may already be taking. If you are already taking traditional Western medicine, especially if you are dependent on it, consult a medical professional before taking any folk remedies.

    Unhealthy Attitudes

    • Those who believe and practice folk medicine strictly may have an unhealthy perspective on Western medicine. One deleterious result of this attitude could be misdiagnosing the problem, and a condition could get worse until it is too late for anyone else to help them.

    Lack of Regulation

    • Folk medicine is also largely unregulated. There is often little or no oversight regarding the purity of the remedies offered or whether or not there is an appropriate dosage applied. Also, because the ingredients are seen as natural, practitioners may take the approach that if some is good, more is better.

    Recent History

    • In 2008, health officials claimed that the practice of folk medicine actually caused lead poisoning after a woman gave her daughters a Mexican remedy for stomach ailments called "greta." Unfortunately, the bright orange powder used in the remedy contained 90% lead. Fortunately, doctors found the higher levels of lead and both girls are currently safe.

    Possible Benefits of Folk Medicine

    • According to Experiencefestival.com, "although herbal medicines are not devoid of risk, they could still be safer than synthetic drugs." The same website also reported a finding by a 30 year study by the World Health Organization which stated that folk medicine only had a small fraction of "adverse events" compared to conventional drugs.

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