The Truth about Herbalism

Analysing Two Perspectives on Health: The Herbalist and the ICU Nurse.

A herbalist, who wishes to stay anonymous, with a large social media following, and Judit, who was previously an Intensive Care Unit nurse, with over two decades of experience in the NHS. Both offer unique insights into healthcare and alternative medicine and each individual has a completely different approach that will be discovered as we explore their views on the healthcare system, treatments, and alternative medicine.

The herbalist first started to become interested in herbalism when his son received the MMR vaccine. According to him, his son became "Injured by the MMR vaccine" and subsequently developed autism and became non-verbal. This experience led him to explore alternative treatments, eventually becoming a herbalist and dedicating himself to the study of natural medicine for the next seven years.

He refers to vaccines as "Satanic and devilish things" which he believes have been misused. His scepticism stems largely from the widely debunked study by Andrew Wakefield in 1998, which initially suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Despite the fact that Wakefield’s study was discredited due to serious research misconduct, many still believe his findings to be true. Since Wakefield’s paper, numerous studies have discredited the idea that vaccines cause autism after an initial investigation by journalist Brian Deer for the Sunday Times.

Furthermore, he believes that mainstream medicine is focused more on managing symptoms and creating lifelong customers for pharmaceutical companies, than on curing diseases. He argues that the healthcare system is corrupted by conflicts of interest of needing customers, so in order to keep those customers they must remain sick. 

He also showed support to Robert F Kennedy Jr becoming the health secretary in the US and believes that “Pharmaceutical companies will begin to crumble” due to Kennedy Jr’s beliefs on the healthcare system. Robert F Kennedy Jr is a very controversial figure and has expressed support for a range of conspiracy theories such as wireless technology potentially causing cancer, which there is no scientific evidence to support, and the COVID-19 pandemic being exaggerated to benefit pharmaceutical companies. He also opposed lock downs, mask mandates and vaccines despite the death toll for the pandemic being over seven million.

The herbalist controversially claims that he has helped over 2,000 parents whose children were diagnosed with autism, even suggesting that some of these children no longer are autistic due to these herbal treatments. However, this claim is incredibly problematic. Autism is not an illness and the suggestion that autism can be helped with herbal treatments is not only misleading but offensive to many in the autistic community.

In contrast to the herbalists focus on alternative medicine, Judit offers a more balanced perspective stemming from her 23 years of experience as an Intensive Care Nurse in the NHS. Her work in the ICU has shown her firsthand the critical need for conventional medical care, particularly when patients are in life-threatening conditions.

For Judit, the importance of intensive care treatments, such as ventilators and cardiac drugs, cannot be overstated. These tools are essential when the body’s systems fail and require urgent support to keep the patient alive. However, she also believes that a holistic approach to health can also help people.

She trained in Hungary as a health visitor which allowed her to embrace the idea of preventive medicine and healthy living long before her ICU career. She advocates for lifestyle changes, including healthy eating and exercise as she states implementing these changes can: “Prevent a lot of sickness. Keeping the optimal healthy balance in the body.”

However, she acknowledges that there are situations where conventional medicine is irreplaceable. For example, in the ICU, when patients are critically ill, alternative forms of medicine and herbal remedies are not practical or helpful. The body is simply too damaged to benefit from anything other than life-saving conventional treatments. She believes the holistic approach can be valuable in the context of prevention, but when illness strikes, the priority is stabilising and saving lives.

Judit is also a Buddhist which influences her approach to healthcare. She believes that a compassionate approach to patient care is essential. She says: “I have always found that heart to heart conversations with the patient and showing compassion and understanding really helps the healing process.” Judit has used her spiritual and Buddhist beliefs to prevent burnout and maintain her passion for nursing, even during the most difficult of shifts.

The herbalist and Judit represent two sides of the healthcare debate: one rooted in natural remedies and scepticism of the medical establishment, and the other grounded in years of medical training, personal experience, and a belief in the value of both conventional and holistic treatments.

The herbalists' beliefs in the dangers of vaccines and the herbal treatments for this have garnered a following, particularly among those who share his scepticism of the medical system. However, his views are often at odds with established science, particularly concerning the debunked links between vaccines and autism.

Judit, on the other hand, provides a more agreeable approach, recognising the value of both conventional medical treatments and holistic practices. She stresses the importance of balance and the necessity of proper care when illness strikes, while also advocating for preventative health measures.

While the herbalist's story about his son highlights the deeply personal and emotional reasons behind his alternative health choices, Judit’s career reflects the realities of working within a complex and often under-resourced and under-funded healthcare system. For her, the solution lies not in rejecting conventional medicine but in addressing systemic issues such as under-staffing and undervaluing healthcare professionals. In my opinion, I believe that there is value in herbalism and alternative medicine when treating symptoms of illnesses such as consuming honey when you have a sore throat or using lavender when struggling with sleep, however there seems to be a pipeline from using alternative medicine to damaging conspiracy theories, that people engaging with herbalism should be cautious and aware of. 

Ultimately, these contrasting viewpoints showcase the complex nature of healthcare, where personal experiences, values, and beliefs play a significant role in shaping an individual’s approach to health and the medical establishment.