Herbal medicine which bases on the use of plants and plant extracts is probably the oldest form of treating illnesses, wounds and injuries, relieving symptoms of series of health problems and strengthening of natural resistance. The popularity of plants and plant extracts for therapeutic properties declined after the introduction of synthetic drugs and emergence of modern medicine. However, the knowledge of health benefits of certain plants survived until nowadays and the number of people who prefer natural remedies over synthetic drugs is rapidly growing. Popularity of herbal remedies can be attributed to scientifically proved efficacy and safety of many traditional herbal remedies as well as to various side effect which are virtually inevitable if using synthetic medications.

Clinical researches have shown that many traditional herbal treatments are both effective and safe. On the other hand, researches also proved that some very popular herbal remedies have very little or any health benefits, while the others were even proved harmful to health.  In addition, the majority of herbs can also cause different side effects and interact with other medications. If deciding to use herbal remedies you are highly recommended to consult with your health care provider about the use of herbal medications especially if being pregnant, breast-feeding, being older than 65 years, having a medical condition or taking any medications. Herbal remedies should not be given to children younger than 16 years of age. Always follow the direction and never exceed the recommended dosage when using herbal remedies. Pay attention to the expiry date, quality due to potential contamination with pesticides and avoid unpackaged herbs. If having any doubts consult with a qualified practitioner.

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This entry was posted on Friday, January 15th, 2010 at 7:45 pm and is filed under Alternative Medicine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.