Herbal remedies can be a useful add to your personal care program, or they can be a danger to your health. Herbs are not regulated by the FDA, as medication is. This means herbs have not been evaluated for safety, and many have not been studied at all to see what their effect is on human health. Before you take any herbal remedies, talk to your doctor about possible side effects and interactions.
Believing They Can Cure Anything
Though some herbs such as ginkgo, Echinacea and chamomile have been studied and seem to be mildly effective in treating certain symptoms or disorders, the same can't be said of all herbs. Herbs are better used as a complementary treatment, alongside traditional drugs, and under the guidance of a medical practitioner. Herbs alone might not be enough to help you fight a serious problem, but false advertisement and lack of regulations might trick you into thinking otherwise. This can be a dangerous assumption and might lead to serious problems.
Unexpected Side Effects
Because many herbs have not been studied and put through clinical trials, it's difficult to know what impact they have in the body. Some people might have no reactions to a particular herb; others might experience serious side effects. Kava is an herb commonly used to treat mood disorders, but it can cause severe liver problems in some people, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine Alerts.
Drug Interaction
Herbs might interact with prescription drugs in serious ways, but many people discount these effects. Many people don't inform their doctors about supplements they're taking and might risk their health in the process. Also, some interactions are well known, but it's difficult to say what happens with less-known herbs. Certain herbs can cancel the effects of prescription drugs. For example, St. John's Wort, a popular over-the-counter treatment for depression, can interfere with a large number of drugs -- including blood certain blood thinners, cardiac drugs, antidepressants and HIV and cancer medications.
Overdosing
Many herbs have not been evaluated for safety, so it's impossible to say what the maximum safe dosage is. Also, maximum dosage varies, depending on the herb. Decoctions, powders, dried extracts, tinctures and capsules all come in different concentrations. According to Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Traditional Medicine in Oregon, getting the right dosage of an herb is a tricky issue. For example, herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine often have no standard dosage, and the amount is adjusted depending on the patient and the occasion. This adjustment is meant to be done by master herbalists. When people buy and take the herbs on their own, they increase the risk for overdosing.
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