Herbal Medications. Natural is not always safer!
Q. A friend of mine told me to stop taking my prescribed medications and switch to herbal or natural remedies instead. He says these products are safer. Is this true?
A. Natural remedies (also called "herbal medications") play an important role in modern medicine. In fact, many of our current prescription medications started from natural sources.
But the idea that these herbal medications are safer than prescription or even over the counter medications, is in fact a myth.
Herbal medications have a couple of important factors working against them.
1. Herbal medications are not studied as closely or as strictly as what we consider traditionally as "medications". This means, how well they work is often not well proven, and how safe they are is not often undersood either, not to mention if they interact with any of your other medications!
2. The actual amount of active ingredients sometimes vary within these herbal remedies. If you don't know how much you are getting, how do you know if it is going to work?
This is not to say that you should abandon the idea of using herbal medications altogether. But the next time you see an advertisement on TV or in a magazine, think twice about whether the claims about this herbal medication are true.
If you plan to start a new medication or herbal medication, always check with your pharmacist to see if there are any potential interactions. Also, when a health care professional asks you what medications you are taking, list all your medications including natural remedies, over the counter items and vitamins. It is in your best interest to do so!
For more information on herbal remedies or natural medications... Ask Your Pharmacist!
