| Alternative herbal medicines are considered to be | | | | who take the products. Before you begin taking |
| preparations which contain only plant substances. | | | | alternative herbal medicines you should consult |
| A lot of herbal medicines are also known as herbal | | | | with your physician. Follow the directions on the |
| supplements. Herbal medicines are made from | | | | label and women who are pregnant or are nursing |
| items such as flowers, tree bark, leaves, fruit, a | | | | their baby might want to avoid taking them. |
| variety of seeds, stems and some variety of | | | | IF you decide to use alternative herbal medicines |
| roots. For numerous herbal medicines the efficacy | | | | to help with illnesses you should consult with an |
| has been proven but for many other herbal | | | | expert who has been trained in herbal medicines. |
| medicines they simply have not been thoroughly | | | | Herbal and other types of dietary supplements |
| researched to determine their effectiveness in | | | | are currently controlled by the FDA and therefore |
| curing and dealing with diseases and illnesses. | | | | are considered food items and are required to |
| Recently, the World Health Organization estimated | | | | meet different standards and different guidelines |
| that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal | | | | for proving their safety and their effectiveness |
| medicines for some aspect of their primary | | | | when compared to medicines. For a substantial |
| healthcare. In the last twenty years in the United | | | | numbers of alternative herbal medicines the active |
| States, increasing public dissatisfaction with the | | | | ingredients are not apparent due primarily to a |
| cost of prescription medications, combined with an | | | | lack of research. Some researchers suggest that |
| interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, | | | | an herbal supplement may contain numerous |
| has led to an increase in the use of herbal | | | | compounds; perhaps hundreds of compounds. |
| medicines. Since a lot of herbal medicines that are | | | | Since herbal medicines have become popular with |
| used by the public have not been thoroughly | | | | the public an increased amount of research is now |
| researched people ought to be concerned about | | | | going on concerning the effectiveness and the |
| the possible unwanted side affects that can result | | | | side affects of these products. You might want |
| from using some of these alternative herbal | | | | to search for the information that is currently |
| medicine products. They should seriously consider | | | | available on the alternative herbal medicines that |
| whether they want to risk the potential harm that | | | | you are considering to use. |
| can occur from using some of these products. | | | | Alternative herbal medicines have been used for a |
| Unfortunately some of the alternative herbal | | | | variety of illnesses, for pain relief and health |
| medicines used by the public are considered to | | | | benefits. They have been used for such things as |
| have toxicity problems while some interact with | | | | helping with pain from migraines, to prevent |
| synthetic drugs that people are taking and causing | | | | coughing, weight loss, for birth control, female |
| health problems. It is believed that Kava and | | | | infertility problems, sunburn problems, constipation |
| Comfrey cause serious liver damage in people. | | | | and other health issues. There are resources |
| Due to most herbal medicines not falling under | | | | available that provide information on the |
| some type of government regulation the quality | | | | usefulness and the possible harmful side affects |
| of the herbal medications sometimes suffers and | | | | from using herbal medicines and supplements |
| contamination and altering of the medicines do | | | | including the NCCAM Clearinghouse. |
| occur. This can cause health problems for people | | | | |