| Many people nowadays are turning to | | | | hefty sum. We could ensure the quality |
| "organics" and "naturals" otherwise | | | | and safety of herbal supplements if they |
| known as herbals. The rising popularity | | | | get proper classification with the food |
| of herbal supplements has created a new | | | | and drug administration. Moreover, |
| fad if not a new health lifestyle. But | | | | people may be able to file the proper |
| before you join the bandwagon, here are | | | | complaints in the event a worsening of |
| some things you need to know about this | | | | health condition is proven to be linked |
| mean, "green" dietary supplementing | | | | to the use of a particular herbal |
| machine. | | | | supplement. |
| - What is the difference between a drug | | | | - Is using herbal supplements worth the |
| and a dietary supplement? | | | | risk? |
| According to the definition set by food | | | | Yes. It cannot be discounted that many |
| and drug administrations in different | | | | who have tried herbal supplements |
| countries, drugs are chemicals that can | | | | experienced an improvement in their |
| prevent, prolong the life, treat other | | | | health-whether this is due to the |
| effects of a health condition, improve | | | | herbals themselves or due to a placebo |
| the quality of life, and/or cure | | | | effect, as long as they do not worsen |
| ailments and diseases, or alter the | | | | the condition of an individual, then |
| function of any part or chemicals inside | | | | using them is worth the risk. But of |
| the body. These drugs have approved | | | | course, certain things must be |
| therapeutic claims. For example, | | | | considered before taking those herbal |
| paracetamol is a drug given to bring | | | | supplements: |
| down the body temperature in fever. | | | | - Your doctor knows best. |
| Ascorbic acid is indicated for the | | | | First of all, clear your condition with |
| treatment of scurvy. Iron supplements | | | | your doctor. Ask him/her if taking a |
| are given to treat mild cases of anemia. | | | | particular herbal supplement is safe |
| Herbal supplements are not classified as | | | | given your health condition. People with |
| drugs but as dietary supplements. The | | | | heart, liver, or kidney trouble or |
| main difference is that they do not have | | | | malfunction, are usually not advised to |
| approved therapeutic claims unlike in | | | | take these, or at the minimum is to take |
| the case of drugs. Moreover, dietary | | | | these herbals in minimum amounts. All |
| supplements could either contain | | | | substances pass through the liver and |
| vitamins, minerals, herbals, or amino | | | | kidney to be processed and filtered |
| acids, all aimed to add to or supplement | | | | respectively. Kava, which is used to |
| the diet of an individual. They are not | | | | relieve people from stress, has been |
| intended to be taken alone as a | | | | pulled out from the Canadian, |
| substitute to any food or medicine. | | | | Singaporean, and German markets because |
| Most of the manufactured medicines we | | | | it contains substances that cause liver |
| now have once came from animals and | | | | damage. Certain herbals such as Ephedra |
| plants. Through the years, chemists | | | | used for losing weight, contains |
| isolated the life-saving or life-curing | | | | chemicals with heart-inducing effects |
| components and separated them from the | | | | that can increase heart rate, which in |
| harmful ones. This lead to the further | | | | turn can exhaust the heart and cause |
| drug research and drug development that | | | | heart attacks in several documented |
| lead to the production of a different | | | | cases by the American Medical |
| variety of drugs for many ailments and | | | | Association. |
| conditions from synthetic sources. But | | | | - Follow the directions for use. |
| still we have semi-synthetic drugs, as | | | | Never take more herbal supplements than |
| well as drug that more or less | | | | what is directed by the doctor or as |
| approximate more natural composition. | | | | instructed on the bottle. Each |
| Since herbal supplements are made from a | | | | individual reacts differently to the |
| mixture of crude herbs reduced into | | | | components of herbal supplements. While |
| powder or gel form, and later on | | | | it is perfectly safe for one individual |
| packaged as tablets and capsules, there | | | | to take in a supplement of primrose oil |
| is a possibility that life-threatening | | | | capsules, another person may be allergic |
| or at least body chemistry-altering | | | | to it. So, do not even think about |
| components are still present, thus the | | | | downing one bottle of |
| expression of concern from the medical | | | | - It has no approved curative effect. |
| community. | | | | No matter how the product pamphlet or |
| - Is there a growing concern with the | | | | the label of the bottle sounds about how |
| use of herbal supplements? | | | | it has been found to be helpful in |
| Yes. With the rising popularity of using | | | | certain health conditions, these herbal |
| and consuming anything herbal or organic | | | | supplements are not therapeutic. So do |
| is the proliferation of fake herbal | | | | not substitute these for the medications |
| supplements that threaten to endanger | | | | prescribed by your doctor for the |
| lives. If that's the case, then why are | | | | treatment of certain diseases, or for |
| herbal supplements given drug | | | | the maintenance of blood pressure, |
| administration approvals? One way of | | | | lowering of blood sugar and cholesterol, |
| ensuring the safety of the people is to | | | | and fight off infections. |
| have all candidate drugs, food, drinks, | | | | For more information on herbal |
| and dietary supplements registered with | | | | supplements, please visit the Holmed |
| the proper authority. Otherwise, they | | | | Market website. |
| would pose more risk with these things | | | | If you wish to shop for herbal |
| being sold in the black market for a | | | | supplements, click here. |