Back to Eden was published originally in 1939. At that time numerous herbal products were listed in The National Formulary, many of which have now been found to be minimally useful or harmful. Think about it. Do you really want to use the medicines of 1939?
|
Back to Eden lists numerous herbs to treat all kinds of conditions including cancers, gonorrhea, goiter, insanity, hydrocephalus, and cholera. Kloss claimed in a letter to the National Cancer Research Institute, to “know the cause, prevention, and cure of cancer, also heart disease, pneumonia, asthma, infantile paralysis (polio), gonorrhea, syphilis and tuberculosis.”
|
Kloss wrote “Red clover is one of God’s greatest gifts to man.... Learn to use this God-given remedy effectively. Used alone it is excellent for cancer of the stomach, whooping cough, and various spasms.” A typical recommendation of his, but there is no scientific (real) evidence that red clover is an excellent treatment for spasms, or whooping cough, or much of anything, much less cancer. Neither is there evidence that herbs are superior, or even moderately effective, treatments for the serious conditions he claimed to cure. Is this responsible health care?
|
Unfortunately Kloss’s optimism is not unique to his time. A set of herb cards (“Nature’s Treasure Chest”) currently available from a high level herb multi-level marketer in a large company lists herbs to treat everything from AIDS, alcoholism, athlete’s foot, and arrhythmias to lupus, Lou Gehrig’s disease and schizophrenia. Unfortunately, the herb recommended for heart rhythm problems - hawthorn -- while having possible benefits for angina, has been shown to increase heart irritability. For some folks that could be a life threatening recommendation.
|
The cards offer a curious blend of company brand herb mixes, single herbs, homeopathic remedies, and colonics with misspelled words, misunderstandings, and misinformation. Since a CNN expose in 1994 the “schizophrenia” and several other recipe cards have been modified with a note claiming to be only “supportive” treatment. Where is the evidence for these claims and changes?
|
Along with bad information masquerading as bad medicine is the cost. A recommended 30 day basic nutrition plan includes ingesting 16 pills a day at a cost of $55 a month - per person. That’s without additional herbs, vitamins or “homeopathic” remedies for specific conditions.
|
Christians and Herbs
|
When Christians use herbs they often attach a spiritual significance to the practice. There seems to be an inevitable linking of herbs and “natural” products with divine prescription as well as provision. There is the belief that natural = good (or actually, = best). Natural is equated with what was provided in the Garden of Eden. Never mind that the Fall occurred, and now all creation groans for redemption; there is no provision for returning to the Garden of Eden.
|
“Natural” becomes almost a state of grace -- a theological position. Herbs are “natural.” Food is to be eaten “the way God made it” -- as close to nature as He made it. Scripture (Genesis 1:29 and like verses) is used to prove the divine prescription and provision of herbs. The use of herbs thus becomes connected with theological doctrine and practice -- and consequently one’s obedience to divine mandate.
|