Not all
medicinal remedies are considered safe. Although herbal remedies have
been used effectively by indigenous cultures throughout the world since
recorded history, not all modern remedies are deemed safe.
The largely unregulated herbal industry is governed by the USDA
and does not regulate herbal plants that have potential harmful side
effects.
Many medicinal
herbs that are considered effective for specific ailments or conditions
have potential toxic side effects. Balancing and regulating the potency
of medicinal remedies is critical to maintaining safety. Consumers are
responsible for knowing the benefits and contraindications of medicinal
herbs before being taken.
Legitimate
formulators of medicinal remedies back all products by scientific
research and testing. If herbal product ingredients are not fully
disclosed or discussed regarding their medicinal activities or
applications do not use them. Supporting legitimate formulators and
manufactures of medicinal products reduces the number of illegitimate
opportunists.
One common
misconception about herbalism is “natural” products equal safety. In
nature many plants have chemical defense mechanisms against predators
that can have adverse effects on humans. Hemlock and Nightshade are
examples of plants that can be deadly to humans. Mushrooms, a natural
fungi, are frequently confused for poisonous look-a-likes.
Pharmaceutical products also have potential toxic side effects or
contraindications.
Manufactures of
herbal remedies acquire herbal ingredients from various sources
throughout the world. Frequently herbal product manufacturing is
outsourced allowing herbal ingredients to be purchased from different
sources. In addition to herbal manufacturing inconsistencies, herbal
producers also make costly mistakes. Documented cases suggest herbal
tea producers have accidentally used the wrong herbs that were imported
from China. Chinese names of some useful herbs sound alike making it
easy to make a mistake. In Belgium, in a TCM remedy for losing weight
was accidentally exchanged for an herb that caused kidney damage in
women. In some instances common scientific names for similar for
multiple varieties of herbs that are medicinally useful and harmful.
If herbal
remedies are used together with prescription (pharmaceutical) remedies,
one Pharmaceutical grade products may become “adulterated” with natural
carriers or fillers. Pharmaceutical product manufacturing varies
between countries based on government regulations.
An American
doctor purchased an OTC product while in China for a common cold and
found it controlled his cold symptoms better than any OTC product he
had ever used in the USA. When he returned to the USA he found out that
it contained cocaine. Some natural “Ayurvedic” herbal products can
contain harmful levels of heavy metals acquired during distillation or
processing. Many of the carrier, filler or trace plant processing
chemicals are not listed or tested.
Western medicine
The history of many
Western pharmaceuticals are linked to herbal remedies. Examples are
opium, digitalis, and quinine. The purification and quantification
processes of these plant extracts has made them more predictable,
however chemical processing can modify their medicinal properties
changing the quality or effectiveness of the herb.
Herbs represent a complex of chemicals represented in drugs and herbal products. The complete medicinal effects of herbs are not fully understood. Consumers should be well informed and error on the side of caution when trying medicinal or herbal remedies. Do not become complacent over the term “natural” as natural may be defined differently by different countries, groups or individuals.