Why herbal

Some pharmaceutical medications are based on a single active ingredient derived from a plant source. Practitioners of herbal medicine believe that an active ingredient can lose its impact or become less safe if used in isolation from the rest of the plant. For instance, salicylic acid is found in the plant meadowsweet and is used to make aspirin. Aspirin can cause the lining of the stomach to bleed, but meadowsweet naturally contains other compounds that prevent irritation from salicylic acid.

According to herbal medicine practitioners, the effect of the whole plant is greater than its parts. Critics argue that the nature of herbal medicine makes it difficult to give a measured dose of an active ingredient. Herbal medicine aims to return the body to a state of natural balance so that it can heal itself. Different herbs act on different systems of the body. It is very important that people do not self-diagnose any health conditions.

Any medication herbal or otherwise should be taken under the supervision of a knowledgeable and qualified practitioner. Herbal medicines can be mistakenly thought to be completely safe because they are 'natural' products.

This is not always correct. Herbal medicines may produce negative effects that can range from mild to severe, including:. Like other prescription medications, herbal medicine should always be prescribed by a qualified and registered practitioner. Contact the professional association for your chosen therapy and ask for a list of members in your area.

This may include:. During the first visit with your practitioner, ask about their training and qualifications. Be very cautious about any practitioner who advises you to abandon your conventional medical treatment. Herbal medications and supplements may interact in harmful ways with over-the-counter or prescription medicines you are taking.

Taking herbal supplements may increase or decrease the effectiveness of other drugs you are taking or may increase the risk of negative side effects. If you are considering taking herbal medicines, it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor about possible side effects and interactions with other medications you are taking.

Not all herbal medicines that are sold are safe. Always purchase from a source that stocks products from a reputable manufacturer or supplier, such as health food stores, supermarkets, pharmacies or from a reputable practitioner. Your doctor may therefore advise you to stop taking any herbal medicines during the weeks leading up to your operation. If you want to try a herbal medicine, look out for a traditional herbal registration THR marking on the product packaging.

This means the medicine complies with quality standards relating to safety and manufacturing, and it provides information about how and when to use it. The risks of obtaining fake, substandard, unlicensed or contaminated medicines are increased by buying medicines online or by mail order. They may be copies of licensed medicines, but made in unlicensed factories with no quality control. You can find a list of banned and restricted herbal ingredients on the GOV.

UK website. Herbal slimming products and sexual health products, for example, are best avoided because they have been found to contain dangerous ingredients, including pharmaceutical ingredients, that aren't stated on the label. This can help the MHRA identify new side effects or risks associated with medicines, including herbal remedies.

Evidence exist that Unani Hakims, Indian Vaids and European and Mediterranean cultures were using herbs for over years as medicine.

Indigenous cultures such as Rome, Egypt, Iran, Africa and America used herbs in their healing rituals, while other developed traditional medical systems such as Unani, Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine in which herbal therapies were used systematically.

Traditional systems of medicine continue to be widely practised on many accounts. Population rise, inadequate supply of drugs, prohibitive cost of treatments, side effects of several synthetic drugs and development of resistance to currently used drugs for infectious diseases have led to increased emphasis on the use of plant materials as a source of medicines for a wide variety of human ailments.

Among ancient civilisations, India has been known to be rich repository of medicinal plants. The forest in India is the principal repository of large number of medicinal and aromatic plants, which are largely collected as raw materials for manufacture of drugs and perfumery products.

Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Folk tribal medicines are the major systems of indigenous medicines. Among these systems, Ayurveda and Unani Medicine are most developed and widely practised in India. Recently, WHO World Health Organization estimated that 80 percent of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their primary health care needs. According to WHO, around 21, plant species have the potential for being used as medicinal plants. As per data available over three-quarters of the world population relies mainly on plants and plant extracts for their health care needs.

Thus, the economic importance of medicinal plants is much more to countries such as India than to rest of the world. These countries provide two third of the plants used in modern system of medicine and the health care system of rural population depend on indigenous systems of medicine.

Treatment with medicinal plants is considered very safe as there is no or minimal side effects. These remedies are in sync with nature, which is the biggest advantage.

The golden fact is that, use of herbal treatments is independent of any age groups and the sexes. The ancient scholars only believed that herbs are only solutions to cure a number of health related problems and diseases. They conducted thorough study about the same, experimented to arrive at accurate conclusions about the efficacy of different herbs that have medicinal value. Most of the drugs, thus formulated, are free of side effects or reactions. This is the reason why herbal treatment is growing in popularity across the globe.

These herbs that have medicinal quality provide rational means for the treatment of many internal diseases, which are otherwise considered difficult to cure. These are considered as home remedies in many parts of the country. The 6 Best Antioxidant Supplements of supplements. The best of EcoWatch, right in your inbox. Sign up for our email newsletter! Enter Email Sign Up. By Michelle Schoffro Cook Most people either think herbal medicines are useless or use them in the same way as drugs.

Herbal medicines work. Herbal medicines tend to be safer than pharmaceuticals. Herbal medicines tend to be an affordable option. Herbal medicine is the ultimate in sustainable medicine. Most herbs contain dozens and sometimes hundreds of healing compounds. Herbal medicines and pharmaceuticals may interact.

Herbs used in cooking retain their benefits. Herbs should not be used in the same way drugs are used.