Natural Medicines

What is a natural medication?  These are usually herbal remedies used instead of pharmaceutical medications.  Pharmaceutical medications have to pass a process of evaluation by the FDA to ensure that the medication is safe and effective for the purpose the manufacturer says it is designed to be used.  Herbal or natural medications are allowed to be sold unless they are found to be unsafe.  That usually happens after they have been on the market for awhile.  There have been several "natural" products which have been pulled off the market due to injury, illness, or death.  The same is also true pharmaceutical problems but far less common than for natural medication.  Pharmaceutical medications get pulled off the market because they don't work as effectively as predicted or because when combined with other medications there may be an unusual side effect.

The biggest problem I see with people using herbs is that they do not know how they are supposed to be used.  People take herbs or even foods used as medications without a lot of medical supervision.  I met a woman who was dating someone who owned a health food store and was taking 14 different herbal remedies.  So I looked at the list and realized the herbs were in conflict with one another.  The Physicians Desk Reference company makes an Herbal Supplement.  I opened my copy and started showing her how to research the herbal preparations she was using.  Taking an herb to cause constipation along with an herbal laxative isn't a good idea.  The fact that the bottle of both medications says it is good for stomach prblems doesn't help people decide what to take.

Some pharmacists have a background in herbal medicine some don't.  But a pharmacist would be a place to start with questions.  The library may have books on herbs also known as "herbals."  Many of thee contain folk use of plant medicines.  There are research papers on herbs including parts of the plants, dose and preparation methods.  Any prescribing physician should be aware of any herbs, over the counter medicines, or foods used as medicine, prior to prescribing pharmaceutical preparations.