Herbal remedies are becoming more commonplace in today's market. Many over-the-counter products include herbs, and some have even been clinically tested and refined for use in the prescription market. Before beginning any herbal treatment plan, contact your doctor and make sure it is right for your condition.
Devil's Claw
Originating from the Kalahari's savanna desert region in southern Africa, devil's claw works for pain relief and inflammation. MedlinePlus, a service from the National Institutes of Health, states its effectiveness toward osteoarthritis, degenerative joint disease and low back pain through the clinical trials previously conducted. It finds more studies are needed to determine its use as an appetite stimulant, cancer remedy and a digestive tonic. Side effects include ringing in the ears, loss of appetite, loss of taste, headache, diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset.
Bearberry
Bearberry is known as uva ursi. It functions well against cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder. It works as an antiseptic and astringent. Wellness.com states that it shows promise for hyperpigmentation and urinary tract infection. Side effects include fast heartbeats, skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, nausea, green-brown urine and insomnia. Serious side effects include convulsions, seizures, cyanosis and liver/kidney dysfunction.
Fennel
Europe and China subscribe to the belief that fennel, a native to the Mediterranean, helps in infant indigestion and as a digestive aid. According to Wellness.com, fennel is effective for infantile colic when in an herbal tea infusion with fennel seed extract. More studies need researching on its effective use for cough, skin protection from ultraviolet light and painful menstruation. Side effects include sensitivity to light, hay fever, inflammation of the nose and eyes, asthma, and atopic dermatitis. Wellness.com states that fennel has a byproduct of fennel honey syrup, a rich source of carbohydrates, and that diabetics should be careful in their consumption due to increasing their blood sugar from this.
Chasteberry
Women used chasteberry for menstruation problems, menopause symptoms and premenstrual syndrome historically, and today it is being studied for its effectiveness in those areas. It is used in capsule form with liquid or solid extracts. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, chasteberry may benefit premenstrual syndrome symptoms, but more research is needed for other uses. Side effects include dizziness, gastrointestinal problems and acne-like rashes. It may affect some hormones in the body and dopamine levels in the brain.
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