| There is a fast-growing interest among people today | | | | herbal or otherwise. |
| regarding alternative medicines and therapies. This | | | | 2. Not all the herbal remedies and natural medicines |
| interest includes the herbal remedies and dietary | | | | you see are created equal. You have to remember |
| supplements market. In fact, it's a safe bet that | | | | that although pharmaceutical drugs are tightly |
| many large supermarkets in your local area feature | | | | regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug |
| an aisle or two specifically for natural medicines alone. | | | | Administration), herbal remedies and dietary |
| A quick browse through the World Wide Web about | | | | supplements are still considered as "food" by the |
| health problems and topics will reveal advertisements | | | | FDA. Therefore, the standardization and quality |
| and articles about natural health products that claim | | | | control enforced by the FDA on pharmaceutical drugs |
| to help consumers with everything from migraines to | | | | doesn't always extend to herbal and dietary |
| sexual deficiencies. | | | | supplements. |
| When they are used properly in combination with a | | | | Consumers do not always know that the FDA does |
| patient's overall health regimen, these natural health | | | | not analyze the contents of the dietary supplements |
| products can be effective and safe. More and more | | | | being sold in the market today. The manufacturers of |
| people are observed to be taking an active part in | | | | these supplements must comply with the FDA's |
| taking care of their health, and this is a good thing. | | | | Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for food |
| What makes it a problem, though, is the lack of | | | | products only. In case you don't know what GMPs |
| information that patients sometimes have, especially | | | | are for, they state the conditions under which food |
| when it comes to self-presciption medicines. With | | | | products must be prepared, packed, and stored. |
| that in mind, it is valuable to know the following | | | | That's it. |
| rules-of-thumb regarding botanicals and herbal | | | | Food GMPs do not take into consideration the overall |
| remedies: | | | | quality of the supplements or its contents. However, |
| 1. Don't immediately think that taking a natural | | | | it's a good thing that more and more herbal |
| medicine is safe for you. Alternative medicines from | | | | supplement manufacturers are voluntarily complying |
| plants or herbs can also be dangerous when taken | | | | with the FDA's GMP for pharmaceutical drugs. These |
| improperly. These natural medicines are usually | | | | are stricter and more standardized, so the products |
| needed to be taken in strong dosages, or at least | | | | from these manufacturers do come with a certain |
| strong enough to be effective. It's good to | | | | level of safety. |
| remember that they also have contra-indications, just | | | | 3. If it's too good to be true, it probably is. In this |
| like other medicines. Usually these contra-indications | | | | instance, I'm talking about the claims that some |
| happen when abnormally large dosages are taken, or | | | | manufacturers put on their products, some of which |
| if the herb is taken over a prolonged amount of time. | | | | are outrageously and overly hyped to be true. Yes, |
| Sometimes patients also take other drugs along with | | | | some botanical remedies have been known to |
| the herbal medicines. Sometimes, a combination of | | | | produce amazing and almost-miraculous results, but |
| herbs and pharmaceutical drugs will result in | | | | consumers cannot take anything for granted, |
| unforeseen problems, some of which can be | | | | especially with something that they take into their |
| dangerous. At the very least, a drug can sometimes | | | | body. Always use common sense when buying and |
| affect the effectiveness of the medicine. This is one | | | | using a new product, and be very careful of those |
| of the important reasons why patients should always | | | | remedies which claim to be a cure-all. |
| consult their doctors before taking any medications, | | | | |