Any intelligent opinions on "herbal remedies"?

Question

I would like to hear some intelligent opinions on the effectiveness of "herbal remedies". Typically, when you start to talk to somebody about this, the discussion gets wacky really fast. People start talking about 'pyrimid power' and other such obvious quackery. But... I have to admit that I have had some personal experiences with a few herbal "cures". I have also known a couple of people... level headed types... who have had conditions that simply didn't respond to traditional medical treatment... but achieved what appeared to be success with herb remedies.

My question, especially for any MD's or pharmacists that might be reading this... is there really something to this... or is it just placebo effect and coincidence/wishful thinking?

Answer 1

Very little research has been done in this area. Some of them have had their claims held up in double blind studies, and others have not. There's only been a tiny number of truly good studies on them. You can look at the Commission E data.
The fact they are natural does not mean they are safe. Many of them interact with drugs, and herbs, too, can cause side effects. The general opinion in healthcare is if you are on medications, do not take a herb unless there have been studies on it proving it does not interact.
One of the worst drugs in terms of interactions is St. John's Wort.

Answer 2

I'm not a doctor, but I do use some herbal remedies because I have a hard time tolerating some prescription medications. I have found relief using some, but don't believe all the "cure-alls" I read because they are usually exagerated. I use websites for information that are reliable and I've come to trust some of them. For instance, try www.supplementwatch.com for a good analysis of whatever herb you're considering. Good luck!

Answer 3

I totally believe in herbal remedies and I use them all the time. I grow my own and what I don't grow I get from the woods or wild flowers that grow around my house. First one must really know what is supposed to help what ailment. I do advise though that sometimes in serious cases you should go to a doctor. I use herbs for colds and my skin problem.

Answer 4

There are many pharmaceutical drugs that have their chemical origins from herbs or plants. Take aspirin, for one example. The main component of this drug is white willow bark. Drug companies just put a few more things in it, to make it chemically more forceful and harmful to the upper digestive tract, and then sell it for a much greater net profit.

I may seem a little facetious, but what I've said is true. White willow bark is a natural substance that has great pain relieving capability with absolutely zero side effects. There isn't a single drug out there that doesn't have a side effect, including simple over-the-counters such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and tylenol/acetom.

Tylenol is "gentler on your stomach than aspirin." Did you know that 30,000 people per year die of gastic ulcer bleeding as a direct effect of aspirin and ibuprofen??? Did you know that Tylenol is gentler on your stomach, but harder on your liver???

These drugs can serve a purpose, but they can pose dangers to the body. Rx drugs forcefully alter body chemistry. Herbal remedies gently serve the body without off-setting its other functions.

Natural herbs are produced from mother earth. You couldn't ask for a more gentle source of healing. Most natural substances have amazing health benefits and absolutely no side effects. Look at the Native Americans and the ancient Chinese. They had advanced healing arts based on herbs and roots of the surrounding nature.

You think that herbs are inferior to Rx drugs, but did you know...

- America is the # 1 country on earth for health care expenditure$$. (We spend more than any other country on care)
- America is 37th on the list in health care delivery.
- America is 77th on the list in actual health. (There are third world countries that are healthier than the U.S.)
- 106,000 people die ever year from medical drugs (NOT FROM MEDICAL ERROR.) This is not consicered medical error, because these people were given the correct diagnosis and the correct drug...they simply died of expected/listed side effects.

(Listen to drug commercials, "GENERALLY side-effects were mild." "You should not take this drug if you have liver problems..." etc...)

Herbs should be a first defense. Rx drugs can be very hard on the body and should be used for intervention/emergency care, not for casual use. Doesn't it make sense to pursue a conservative means of care first, then move to the more radical approaches last, instead of waiting for the radical approach to fail, and then lastly trying the conservative approach?????????

Remember, nature is not into growing plants for capitalism. Rx companies put out deadly poisons every year, that kill thousands and thousands every year. Drugs are lobbied every year, and put on the shelves and into people's body's with minimal testing. The overwhelming focus to the Rx industry is PROFIT, PROFIT, PROFIT. Do you know that common drugs have a net profit margin of over 10,000% ??? If that won't make a greedy man overlook the dangers to human life, then I don't know what will.

Herbal remedies should not be the suspect here!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

i'd always rather put somehing natural in my body than something man made. but whatever works for you I would go with. I've cured alot of my problems with natural medicine.

Answer 6

it's possible, pills recommeded to people now, I refuse to take, its Governement Drugs, and I bet they are addictive to many people.

I prefer my vitamins and minerals and time to get better.