All modern pharmaceutical drugs need to be prescribed due to dangers of side effects or allergic reactions, or possibly reaction with other drugs. This has resulted in the development of a myth about natural products, including herbalism, that has spread far and wide. The myth goes that natural products are safe. Or, anyone can take them without consulting an expert and they will do no harm.
In the end, whatever we extract from plants, spices of curative agents, we are dealing with chemicals. Over centuries the defense system of plants has led them to produce some very lethal chemicals. There are innocent looking plants that can give an adult nausea if a single leaf is smelled close closely. A small nibble of the same leaf by an infant can be fatal. Fortunately, most such plants are found deep in the forests where predators other than man are a threat. Still, there are milder forms of toxins in plants much closer to us and even these can be lethal if caution is found lacking. For example, hemlock and nightshade are two plants that can prove to be fatal through carelessness.
Also to be remembered is the fact that plants or herbal remedies are as likely to cause side effects and allergic reactions as other pharmaceutical drugs. However, these problems usually result from improper dosage and impurities. Another danger is taking herbal remedies with conventional drugs when both perform the same task. In that case the cumulative effect will surely result in an overdose.
Effectiveness
Scientific studies provide indisputable evidence that the herbals extracts from plants can not only cure but also prevent certain types of diseases. Further evidence of the benefits of herbal medicine can be found in the fact that there are many modern pharmaceutical drugs available that use plant extracts. The need for caution comes in when reading the advertisements and other marketing materials for alternative medicines, even if they are plant based, 100% natural and completely safe. There are no products on the market that will advertise boldly that they might not be effective in some cases. That sort of statement is usually hidden in the small print.
That should not be criteria when choosing an alternative medication. There are cases where scientific studies have shown that people receive none of the medical benefits that the product claims to deliver. There are many alternative medicines on the market that have not undergone any sort of testing whatsoever. The importance of scientific testing becomes apparent when you consider that these old-age natural therapy concepts were developed when there were no scientific controls and no test procedures. If someone wanted to try out a new herb, the easiest way for to try it on themselves first. Secondly, the human mind was not as well understood as it is today. For example, modern controls can easily make out the difference between a placebo effect, the body's ability to heal itself through its immune system, and the actual practical benefits of herbs. Without this understanding any herb, whether beneficial or not, can be made to look like a life saver.
Scientific investigation also helps to reveal the precise nature and structure of the chemicals in an herb. Which chemicals do what. How to they react with blood and other internal organs. What chemical combines where to produce what compound – finally resulting in a cure or relief. These are important facets of scientific testing that were not available in the days when herbal traditions were being established. Most knowledge in those days was anecdotal and based on personal experience. Humanity and especially the medical workers know better today. It is always prudent to choose a medical treatment that has been proven safe and effective. It is possible for people to get so influenced by the natural healing movement that they will abandon conventional medicine altogether.
Avoid falling into this trap. Herbal therapies have just begun to be studied scientifically and until proven safe and sound should only be used as complementary alternative medicines, not the main treatment. The chemical composition of a lot of herbs is still not known so there is always the standing danger of violent reaction to an alkaloid. Do not underestimate this.
Standards
Different countries allot different legal status to different herbal ingredients. For example, ayurveda, the alternative medicine therapy from India believes that heavy metals are therapeutic. The United States however believes that high levels of heavy metals are actually unsafe for normal consumption. So ayurvedic medicines are not granted the same status as regular drugs and they are certainly not FDA approved. Like other non-FDA-approved health products, ayurvedic drugs are sold in the United States as dietary supplements and not medicines. This is merely an evasion because as per American laws, supplements do not need to be tested for safety or effectiveness. In some cases even quality control of the active ingredients can be inadequate.
Usage
If you intend to use herbal remedies then it is always advisable to first have a detailed and frank discussion with your doctor. Keep in mind that herbal remedies can cause adverse reactions just like conventional drugs. This risk is augmented when herbal remedies are taken in combination with prescription or over the counter drugs. For example, if you are taking medication for hypertension (these medicines lower blood pressure) and at the same time you take a herbal supplement with the same affect, there is a very high risk possibility of blood pressure dropping dangerously.
There are also many supplements available that might contain herbs, which are to be strictly avoided during pregnancy.
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