Are Herbal Medicines Safe for Health

Friday, November 9, 2012
Many people have a common misperception that herbal medicines are safe for health. However, is that so? In reality, after researching on these medicines, I just found that the real fact is something else. Accordingly, I want to discuss in this article concerning the real facts of herbal medicines.

What is herbal Medicine?

Herbal or botanical medicine is a kind medicinal practice that is based on the exercise of herbs and herb extracts. This medicinal practice is the oldest but most widely used in all cultures and societies. In addition, herbal medicine is also known as "traditional medicine", "botanical medicine", "phyto medicine" and "natural medicine".

Why People Have Common Misperception About Herbal Medicines?

In fact, after reviewing several forums on this medical practice, I found that there are several interesting reasons for having misperception. Firstly, many people believe that if a remedy came from herbs or herb extracts, it must be harmless and safe.Secondly, most of the manufacturer of these medicines advertises their products as natural with no adverse effects.Thirdly, most of these medicines are OTC (over the counter) in many countries, and there are no strict guidelines for the preparation and administration of these products.Finally, the safety and effectiveness these medicinal products are not ensured to common people.

Why Use of Herbal Medicine Could Be Harmful to You?

These medicinal products and practices can cause risky and serious adverse reactions if the product is not administered appropriately, or in combination with other medicines or the therapy or product lacks quality. In addition, according to several studies, many of these medicinal products can cause dangerous drug-drug interactions with modern allopathic medicines as well as with other herbal products. Further, these herb-drug interactions could alter the efficacy and bioavailability of the prescribed medications. Moreover, you need to know that, with only a few exceptions, most of these herbal or phyto medicinal products have not experimented for safety, efficiency and effectiveness through clinical trials or studies. As a result, many researchers said that these medicines could cause serious health hazards that many consumers are not concerned. In addition, according to the scientific and medical community, these medicines may possibly threat the life or well-being of the consumer when administered instead of allopathic medicines.
Finally, before concluding I want to recommend that if you are interested in taking herbal medicines, you must consult with your healthcare provider first. For the reason that you need to make sure that the medicine or herb you are taking into consideration is safe for use, or will not cause side effects and safe to use in combination with other allopathic drugs.

Alternative Medicine Or Conventional Medicine

Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Before we can understand the term: Alternative Medicine, it is necessary for us to first understand what Conventional Medicine is. Now Conventional Medicine is the current medical system of hospitals, doctors, medicine and chemists. In short, the general accepted health care system of any country. Doctors go to university, study for seven or more years, do an internship at a hospital, and then join or start a medical practice. When you are sick, you go to a doctor, who will prescribe some medicine, send you to a hospital, and/or do an operation.

Under the term: Alternative Medicine, we understand that it contains practices and medicine not recognized by conventional medicine. This is medicine that is not taught at universities and not available at hospitals. Sometimes they are used together with conventional medicine. We then call it: Complimentary Medicine. Alternative medicines include some of the following: acupuncture, Chinese medicine, chiropractic medicine, folk medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathy, faith healing, naturopathy, new age healing, massage, and music therapy.

Why do people visit Alternative Medicine practitioners?

Statistics show that more people visit Alternative Medicine Practitioners than visit Conventional Practitioners, preferring to pay out of their own pockets rather than use the healthcare system. Why is that? It is perhaps because Alternative Medicine is more traditional, for example, Ayurvedic medicine, which is traditional Indian medicine, has been practiced for the past five thousand years and traditional Chinese medicine has been practiced for over three thousand years. Alternative medicine believes in the body's natural ability to heal itself, and just helps in the process. In addition to that, most alternative medicines are natural and non toxic.

By further comparison we see that alternative medicine excels in the treatment of chronic diseases. It strives to find the cause for the disease and is also more focussed on prevention. Conventional medicine, by contrast, focuses on the relief of symptoms, and rarely looks at prevention or the cause of the disorder. Alternative medicine sees the person as unique and focuses on a holistic approach to healing him. Conventional medicine focuses on the organ that has a problem; hence you get cardiologists, neurologists, etc.