While I guess opiates could be considered herbal rememdies but probably not what was originally intended
However I found your information fascinating especially since I too have had some first hand experiences with these medicines. Vicadin, of course, is very commonly prescribed much like percodan is. When I had a Kidney stone I received Morphine and mighty happy I was too. I must be honest I didn't cough once either. One thing I did experience was the unknown passage of time. My wife was with me and I would doze off mid sentence. I would come to at the same place I left. To me no time would have passed but actually I was "zoned" for an hour or so at a time.
With Vicadin I also tend to become groggy and drowsy so while it doesn't affect you this way it certainly does affect a lot of people that way. Does this mean it should be illegal. No I am not saying that however we should always monitor our own reaction to medication.
The one medication I 100% support being illegal and prescription only are anti-biotics. This is because misuse or abuse of them can lead to super diseases which do affect society in general.
Sorry to stay off topic but that Opium article was just too fun to ignore.