| Use of herbs for health and as a | | | | products are safe to use for its |
| medicine has a history dating back to | | | | nutritional value. For medicinal |
| man's evolution on the planet. From | | | | purposes, it is better to check out the |
| times immemorial, man has experimented | | | | source and labels to ascertain safety, |
| and used botanicals to heal and provide | | | | evidence of its healing properties and |
| remedial treatments. | | | | whether the herbs are safe for general |
| Ancient cultures from India, China and | | | | consumption. |
| Japan have remarkable history of herbal | | | | World health organization has estimated |
| use which part of the pharmacopoeia of | | | | that 80 % of the world population uses |
| these cultures. While the herbs have | | | | some or the other herbs for health and |
| been extensively, there are very little | | | | healing. Increasing research is throwing |
| clinical experiments until about 100 | | | | up clinical evidence for its efficacy in |
| years back. However, there is an | | | | prevention of various modern day |
| extensive and exhaustive empirical | | | | problems such as cancer, diabetes, |
| evidence of the efficacy of various | | | | nervous disorders and blood pressure. |
| herbal treatments. | | | | Most of the herbal products available |
| In the last century, there has been an | | | | today are conveniently processed and |
| increased interest in herbal remedies | | | | packed as herbal tea or coffee, and in |
| due to its cost effectiveness and | | | | the form of capsules as nutritional |
| non-toxic nature. Herbs are generally | | | | food. While products labeled as |
| safe to use as medicine in or general | | | | nutritional supplements are safe to use |
| tonic for maintaining good health. | | | | it is best to consult a physician for |
| Herbal products are derived from | | | | treatment of disease. |
| botanical sources. Most of the herbal | | | | |