Are products and herbal health supplements are safe because they are natural?
Not necessarily. Do not assume that products and herbal health supplements are safer than medicines just because they are natural or come from plants. After all, many plants are poisonous! Although the products and herbal supplements are advertised as “natural,” they are not necessarily natural to the human body.
Unlike prescription drugs and those non-prescription (known by its initials in English as OTC or OTC) products and herbal supplements do not have to be tested to prove they work and are safe before they can sold. They can not be pure. They may contain other ingredients such as plant pollen that could make you sick. Sometimes they contain drugs that are not listed on the label such as steroids or estrogen. Some of these products may contain even poisonous substances such as arsenic, mercury, lead and pesticides.
What kind of herbal products and supplements are available?
There are hundreds of herbal products and supplements available. They are advertised to treat just about any symptom. However, there is no reliable evidence to prove what these advertising claims.
Some of the products and most popular herbal supplements include chondroitin sulfate, echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), ephedra (also called ma huang (ephedra sinica)), garlic, the “gingko biloba, Ginseng , glucosamine, kava (Piper metrysticum), melatonin, phytoestrogens (such as “black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa),” dong quai (Angelica sinensis) and soybeans), the “Saw palmetto (saw palmetto americana) and the wort, St. John ( “St. John’s wort”).
Are there any health problems that increase the danger that exists to take herbal products and supplements?
Yes herbal products and supplements may not be safe if you have certain health problems. You may also have an increased risk of having problems with these products if a person in Older Adults. Talk to your doctor before taking herbal products if you have any of the following health problems:
* Blood clotting problems
* Cancer
* Diabetes
* An enlarged prostate gland
* Epilepsy
* Glaucoma
* Heart Disease
* High blood pressure
* Problems with the immune system
* Psychiatric Problems
* Parkinson’s Disease
* Liver problems
* Stroke
* Thyroid problems
If you are going to have surgery, be sure to tell your doctor if you are taking herbal products. Herbal products can cause complications in surgery, including bleeding and problems with anesthesia. Stop using herbal products at least two weeks before surgery, or sooner if your doctor recommends.
What are the possible side effects of herbal products and supplements?
Many herbal products can cause side effects.
Are products or herbal health supplements may change the way the counter drugs or prescription drugs work?
Yes herbal products or supplements can affect the way the body processes drugs. When this happens, your medicine may not work as it should. For example, hypericum (St. John’s wort) that reduces the amount of certain drugs absorbed by the body. This may mean that drugs are not absorbed at high enough levels to be useful for conditions for which they were prescribed. This can cause serious problems.
You should be especially cautious about using herbal products or supplements to health if you take a drug that is in one of the following categories:
* Medicines to treat depression, anxiety or other psychiatric problems
* Anticonvulsant medications
* Anticoagulants
* Blood pressure medications
* Heart medicines
* Medication for treatment of diabetes
* Cancer drugs
If you take any of these medications, speak with your doctor before taking any herbal product or supplement.
Are products and herbal health supplements may cause other problems?
Yes herbal products and supplements may have other effects that are not listed in the box above. A few examples include:
- Glucosamine products may contain sodium. If you are on a diet with a low-sodium, talk to your doctor before taking glucosamine.
- People who are allergic to shellfish may be allergic to glucosamine. If you have a shellfish allergy, check with your doctor before taking glucosamine.
- Do not drink alcohol if you take kava products. Kava may increase the effects produced by alcohol.
- The phytoestrogen black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) contains salicylates, so avoid it if you are sensitive to aspirin or other salicylates.
Furthermore, it should not take more than the recommended dose of any product or herbal health supplement. The problems that these products cause are much more likely to occur if you take too much or take them for a very long time.
Tags: Health, Herbal, Natural, Supplements
