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Is Herbal
Supplementation Really A Good Idea?
Organic and natural supplements are no longer simply fads;
they have become ways of life. Many people are looking upon
these herbal supplements as a way of life. However, are these
green foods really any good? Here's what you should know
beforehand.
Differences between Medicinal Drugs and Herbal Supplements
Drugs are defined as chemicals that can prevent some unhealthy
condition in the body or can treat the condition, or enhance
the quality of life in some manner, or lengthen the span of
life. They are drugs that have known results and effects in
medicinal therapy. A popular example is acetaminophen, which
is an anti-pyretic, i.e. a drug given for reducing fevers.
Another example is the drug ascorbic acid given in the
treatment of scurvy. Anemia is treated with supplementary
drugs containing iron.
Herbal supplements are not exactly drugs. They are supplements
that are taken along with foods, i.e. dietary supplements. The
most important difference is that the herbal supplements do
not have any kinds of proven therapeutic results like the
drugs have. Rather than helping to treat a diseased condition,
these herbal supplements are used for aiding the diet of the
person. None of these herbal supplements are meant to be taken
in isolation, and neither are they considered to be
substitutes of anything.
The natural supplements that we hear of today are all of
organic origin; i.e. they have come from the bodies of plants
and animals. Herbal science is a science that has been
perfected since millennia; scientists and experts have spent
years and years trying to find out which herbs are good for
the body and which are not. Today, there are specific herbal
supplements known that can aid specific human body conditions.
There are also semi-synthetic drugs that have a blend of
therapeutic drugs and herbal supplements. These herbal
medicines are usually a mixture of some herbs and are
formulated as gels, powders, tablets or capsules. Though the
herbal science has vastly improved in recent times, there are
still possibilities that some of these ingredients might alter
the compositions of the body. That is the reason for most of
the flak that they get.
Are People Concerned about using Herbal Supplements?
The definite answer to this has to be 'yes'. There are things
not yet known about herbal supplements, and then there is a
lot of adulteration going on too. These are potential threats
to life. But even then herbal supplements are getting
approvals from the food and drug administering bodies around
us. We can assume that these herbal supplements are safe to
use. We must look out for the proper approval from the proper
bodies before using these supplements. That is a way to ensure
their safety. Approval from the authorities means they meet
the quality and quantity standards. Also, if there are
problems, there could be a way for complaining.
Should Herbal Supplements be used despite the Risk?
Again, the answer would be 'yes'. The number of people who
have claimed health benefits after herbal supplement use is
too big to ignore. Of course, a placebo effect cannot be
discounted, but still we must commend the fact that the health
condition did show improvements. That is why using herbal
supplements is worth the risk. Yet, there are precautions that
need to be observed before the use, and even the doctor's
advice needs to be taken.
Follow the Doctor.
Your doctor will definitely be your best guide in this. Ask
your doctor if an herbal supplement will be okay for your
physical condition. For some people with cardiac, renal and
liver problems, herbal supplements might not be advisable, or
there could be added restrictions in their use. That is
because the herbal supplements will have to pass through the
liver and the kidneys. One example of a restricted herbal
supplement is kava, a stress-reliever, which has been banned
for use in Canada, Germany and Singapore because of the
potentially liver damaging ingredients that is possesses.
Another example is Ephedra, a weight-loss herbal supplement,
which has proven to contain chemicals that affect the rate of
heartbeat that can also culminate into seizures. The AMA
(American Medical Association) actually has some recorded
cases of problems brought on due to the use of Ephedra.
Be Particular about the Directions and Dosage.
Herbal supplements should never be taken in excess of what is
indicated. That is because every one of us will react in a
different way to these herbal supplements. Take an example of
the primrose oil capsules. Though these capsules could be safe
for most of us, some individuals might be allergic to them. Do
not go in excess of what is advised; it could have harmful
repercussions.
Herbal Supplements do not have Approved Curative Effects.
There is a lot of hype about herbal supplements, but the truth
of the matter is that they might not be as effective as they
are hyped up to be. The advertising might always sound too
good to be true. That is the reason why you should not be in a
hurry to stop the medication your doctor has put you on and
follow the herbal supplements. For some conditions, like blood
pressure problems, lowering of sugar and cholesterol contents
in the blood and in infections, this is definitely very much
ill-advised.
Source:
http://www.lifesatori.com |
