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Safe use of herbals
By Lynda Appell
Many people equate natural with harmless. That is the main reason manufacturers tout their products as being all natural. While this may be the truth, the implication that its completely safe may not be true. Natural doesn't necessarily mean it is harmless. A prime example of this would be poison ivy, and related plants. An even stronger case in point is tobacco. Conversely this is not to say every substance found in nature is harmful. Many herbals, botanicals, medicinal plants can be used safely if one take's some simple precautions. If one follows these, one should be able to use most herbs safely. There are a few medicinal plants that only be used under the care of a physician knowledgeable in herbals or even better a professional herbalist. There are a few botanicals that ought not be utilized by anyone.
The first thing one should know of the plant are its contraindications. Contraindications is a medical term people who can't use the herb. Practically every herb contains the following contraindications, pregnancy, nursing, allergic. To see what other CI's there are I strongly recommend either buying or perusing through a professional herbal handbook. I mean the ones written for MD, DO's, nurses and other health care professionals. These books can tell the reader exactly who can and can't use the herbal. Most herbs interact with meds,Rx and OTC.
They either increase or decrease the effect. For example Fenegreek interacts with oral antidiabetics and the result can be hypoglycemia. (low blood sugar) Herbals containing coumarin such as cinnomon, chamomile, red clover, parsley can cause the blood to clot more slowly if used with an anticoagulants, antiplatelet medicals. There are many other examples. One example of a possible dangerous botanical is Sassafras. This is because it contains safrole. a substance the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspects is carcinogenic. I realize there is much criticism of this US agency and how it favors pharmacautical firms over alternative health. My question is Safrole is found in nutmeg and black pepper.
I wonder why the FDA doesn't crack down on those herbs.
Coltsfoot, Comfrey, Lobelia, Chapperal, Kava, Croton are linked to liver damage and possibly liver cancer.
The last named plant Croton in my opinion should not be use by anyone under any circumstance. Short term effects are a terrible, musty foul odor, nasty painful sores if touched. Severe nausea, diarrhea. Long term effects carcinogenic.
Most herbs are safe if one uses precautions. |
Core Complementary Resources.
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This intel was contributed by mugwort
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May, 2012
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