Complementary Medications, Herbal Healing An

Complementary Medications, Herbal Healing An Introduction for Social Work Professionals 

There has been a pronounced movement toward taking charge of one s own physical and mental health. The underlying premise in accepting this responsibility is that good health now involves not only promoting but also maintaining wellness. 

One of the biggest concerns facing social workers who accept and support these types of medicines is the client s assumption that herbals are natural and therefore must be safe. Yet considering their long history and tradition as medicinal remedies, it is surprising that so little research has been done to quantify their effectiveness. 

Most people do not realize that many prescription medications are created from similar ingredients and that approximately 25% of all drugs used today are derived from herbs (Greenwald, 1998). Furthermore, many prescription and OTC medications adapt and freely utilize a herbal base in their composition. Aspirin is derived from the bark of the white willow tree, and there is a cancer treatment medication known as Taxol that 

JoLee was a 52-year-old graduate-level accountant who reported that she had suffered from depression for approximately the past 10 years. Upon arriving for her third session with the social worker, JoLee stated that she was very excited because she had found the answer to all her depression problems. JoLee proceeded to thank the social worker for her time, saying 

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