Products made from botanicals, or plants, that are used to treat diseases or to maintain health are called herbal products, botanical products, or phytomedicines. A product made from plants and used solely for internal use is called an herbal supplement. Many prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines are also made from plant products, but these products contain only purified ingredients and are regulated by
the FDA. Herbal supplements may contain entire plants or plant parts. Herbal supplements come in all forms: dried, chopped, powdered, capsule, or liquid, and can be used in various ways, including: Swallowed as pills, powders, or tinctures Brewed as tea Applied to the skin as gels, lotions, or creams Added to bath water The practice of using herbal supplements dates back thousands of years. Today, the use of herbal supplements is common among American consumers. However, they are not for everyone. Because they are not subject to close scrutiny by the FDA, or other governing agencies, the use of herbal supplements remains controversial. It is best to consult your doctor about any symptoms or conditions you have and to discuss the use of herbal supplements. The FDA and herbal supplementsThe FDA considers herbal supplements foods, not drugs. Therefore, they are not subject to the same testing, manufacturing, and labeling standards and regulations as drugs. You can now see labels that explain how herbs can influence different actions in the body. However, herbal supplement labels can't refer to treating specific medical conditions. This is because herbal supplements are not subject to clinical trials or to the same manufacturing standards as prescription or traditional over-the-counter drugs. For example, St. John's wort is a popular herbal supplement thought to be useful for treating depression in some cases. A product label on St. John's wort might say, "enhances mood," but it cannot claim to treat a specific condition, such as depression. Herbal supplements, unlike medicines, are not required to be standardized to ensure batch-to-batch consistency. Some manufacturers may use the word standardized on a supplement label, but it does not necessarily mean the same thing from one manufacturer to the next. Precautions when choosing herbal supplementsHerbal supplements can interact with conventional medicines or have strong effects. Do not self-diagnose. Talk to your doctor before taking herbal supplements.
What are some of the most common herbal supplements?The following list of common herbal supplements is for informational purposes only. Talk to your doctor to discuss specific your medical conditions or symptoms. Do not self-diagnose, and talk to your doctor before taking any herbal supplements.
It is important to remember that herbal supplements are not subject to regulation by the FDA and, therefore, have not been tested in an FDA-approved clinical trial to prove their effectiveness in the treatment or management of medical conditions. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and discuss herbal supplements before use. Why do we need to know the importance of herbal medicine?The major use of herbal medicines is for health promotion and therapy for chronic, as opposed to life-threatening, conditions. However, usage of traditional remedies increases when conventional medicine is ineffective in the treatment of disease, such as in advanced cancer and in the face of new infectious diseases.
What is the importance of traditional and alternative medicine?People want natural products and want to have more control over their health. They turn to complementary and alternative medicine to relieve common symptoms, improve their quality of life and protect against illness and diseases in a holistic way.
What are the reasons given to support the claim that herbal medicines are not always safe?Herbal medicines can be mistakenly thought to be completely safe because they are 'natural' products. This is not always correct.. allergic reactions and rashes.. asthma.. headaches.. nausea.. vomiting.. diarrhoea.. How can I promote my herbal medicine?Ministry of AYUSH has taken the steps to promote and publicize Herbal medicine among the people by the following ways: Organizing of Arogya Fairs, Health Fairs/ Melas / Exhibitions both at the National and State Level and an Annual event namely, Ayush scheme.
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