What is the negative effects of Herbal Medicine?

Answer 1

Negatives effects depend on which herb you are talking about. They are all different. Tannins in some herbs can prevent proper absorption of vitamins and minerals (iron for example). Yet sometimes tannins are exactly what you want (useful in diarrhea for example). It depends on what the plant is being used for. Some herbs adversely interact with certain pharmaceutical drugs, some adversely interact with existing health conditions.

The other problem that I see with herbal medicine are people's perception of it. Those who love it seem to think that because it is natural it is therefore safe. Foxglove and Lily of the Valley are both natural, and both have been used in herbal medicine, and both can kill you if you don't know what you're doing!

As herbal medicine gains in popularity, with more and more money to be made in the industry, there seems to be more and more in the way of junk herbal products. Reports from laboratory tests have shown a lack of the ingredient herb mentioned on the label, adulteration with pharmaceutical drugs, and herbs (often toxic) that have not been mentioned on the label. There is also the problem of low quality herbs that offer no benefit at all and are simply a waste of money. This is extremely frustrating to those of us who take pride in responsible herbal use and quality products.

I've also noticed that when many people express what they think herbal medicine is, they describe self-diagnosing, self-prescribing (I call it Do It Yourself medicine), and the products they see on health food store shelves or advertised on the internet. This is quite different from going to see a highly qualified herbalist - and as apposed to someone who took a weekend course and decided to hang up a shingle as an "herbalist".

Often, the negative effects of herbal medicine that we see in the mainstream media are over blown. For example: in Canada (I think the US too) you aren't supposed to use Comfrey (Symphytum officinalis) for internal use. Not even the leaf. Yet to my knowledge there has never been a case of liver damage due to the leaf of this plant in Canada, when used under the supervision of an herbalist. The few cases that I've seen reported weren't very clear on whether it even was Comfrey or some other plant. Furthermore the toxicity of the leaf (according to the toxicity studies I've seen) is such that you'd have to eat more than your weight in comfrey to reach toxic levels. Yet, the drug monograph I have for acetaminophen says that acetaminophen is the leading cause of liver damage!

All in all, herbal medicine, when used responsibly has an excellent track record. Especially when used with the guidance of a highly qualified herbalist.

Answer 2

Herbal medicine is a great alternative to traditional medicine because it tends to be much cheaper. Also, herbal medicine usually does not have the same risks and side-effects that traditional medicine has.

Answer 3

Scientifically, very little. In many cases, herbal medication is simply more expensive and less effective than synthetic medicine.

AnswerScientifically, a lot! Many herbs that are being studied are proving to be both effective and have fewer side effects than their pharmaceutical counterparts. St John's wort is one example of this. In one study (there are others) it proved to be much better than placebo and similar to conventional medications in effectiveness, while having fewer side effects than conventional medications. [Linde K, Mulrow CD. St John's wort for depression (Cochrane Review). In: the Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2000.]

In some cases the herbs work better than their pharmaceutical counterparts. Have a look at the studies being done on the plant Artemesia annua and it's effects in drug resistant malaria.

This kind of scientific support of traditional uses for herbal medicine is becoming increasingly common. Herbal medicine (when used responsibly) has a long track record of successful, safe, and effective use, spanning thousands of years. Modern conventional medicine is relatively new. Though the modern scientific methods can, in many cases, offer more understanding of why and how herbs work - very useful in a modern herbalist's practice.

Answer 4

The purpose of herbal medicines are to treat certain illnesses just like pharmaceutical drugs. Herbal medicines have been called "alternative" medicine but as a matter of fact, herbal medicines were used by our ancestors long before pharmaceutical drugs ever existed. A great advantage of using herbal medicines is that, no side-effects are involved.

Answer 5

Gen 1:29  And God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree upon which is the fruit of a tree bearing seed—to you they shall be for food. 

Gen 1:30  And to every animal of the earth and to every fowl of heaven and to all the living creatures that crawl upon the earth, every green plant is given for food." And it was so. 

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Answer 6

the herbal medicines can cure cuts scars and more mostly for dramatic injurys the maori first began to vuse them thousand of years ago from various trees and plants