What are herbal medicines?

Safety should always come first this is especially true when you are buying medication, whether conventional drugs or an alternative herbal medicine. Read on for some important reminders to keep in mind when you shop for supplements.

What are herbal medicines?
The popularity of alternative herbal medicine is NOT rooted on the fact that they cost less than the drug medications. Most people prefer it because it comes from botanical sources, and is therefore considered natural. But you should also be wary of natural products because certain herbs may be toxic once it reacts to other substances present inside the body.

Basic tips
Here are just some of the basic considerations to keep inmind before you buy alternative herbal medicine:

1. SIDE EFFECTS.
The basic concern for anyone who will be using alternative medicine is the doable side effects that studies have already shown. For instance, ginseng has been found to cause side effects ranging from milder ones like headaches to more serious ones like vaginal bleeding and high or low blood pressure. Diarrhea seems to be the most common side effect in favourite alternative herbal medicine like chondroitin sulfate, echinacea, garlic, ginkgo biloba, and glucosamine. Ephedra, which used to be very known in its ability to heal, can cause stroke, heart attack, seizures, and uneven heartbeats.

2. APPROPRIATENESS.

An important thing to remember when deciding to use alternative herbal medicine is the ailment you wish to address. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) said that you should consult a doctor when using herbs to treat: thyroid problems, stroke, cancer, blood clotting, liver problems, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, enlarged prostrate gland, psychiatric problems, epilepsy, heart disease, glaucoma, high blood pressure, and immune system problems.
As alternative herbal medicine act like drugs by reacting on other substances present in the system, the AAFP also recommended that caution should be exercised in the use of both herbs and drug medications to the following sickness: psychiatric concerns, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, seizure, blood clotting, and blood pressure.

3. MANUFACTURER REPUTATION.

Bear in mind that dietary supplements like alternative herbal medicine are not regulated by the U. S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). This means that these products are not subject to government testing before they can be offered to consumers (unlike other drug medications). Thus, it is very important to buy from a company that you trust, such as pharmaceutical GMP-compliant manufacturers. These manufacturers have passed very strict standards, so you can be sure that their products are of high quality.