Herbs
Herbs: To Take
or Not to Take
by Mary
Howard, RN
Herbs and
other natural remedies are so popular in our society. Lets
look at a few things to make sure what you are taking is
safe and the importance of taking control of your own health
care.
There are many
people and companies promoting their own herbal remedies to
cure this or that ailment. Are they right for you? Are they
safe? Are they effective? These are all questions to ask
yourself. If you feel very strongly that you want to take an
herbal supplement talk to someone in the field. Like someone
that does Muscle Response Testing, a Naturopath, or a
Nutrition/Fitness Professional. Be sure they know about any
medication you may be on either over the counter or
prescribed.
Don’t stop
there. Take control of your own destiny and do your own
research. There are many good resource books out there like:
The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medication by Daniel B.
Mowrey, Ph.D. and Today's Herbal Health by Louise Tenney,
M.H.
You also need
to consider that, many herbs are put together in a
Supplement because one potentiates (makes each other work
better) the other. This concept holds true with medication
combinations. Many herbs can potentiate a medication, which
can cause a toxic level of a medication or can block a
pathway so a medication won't do its job.
It is safest
to start slowly on an herbal supplement and listen to your
body. It is often safest to start with a supplement that is
more for health maintenance like Alfalfa, a balanced
Multivitamin/Mineral supplement or some other whole food
supplement. Frequently, when we give our body the balance of
nutrients it needs it will do much to heal itself. The very
safest nutrients are to go out in your organic garden and
pick your own food. The less refined a food and the least
chemicals you put in your body the less need you will have
for extreme medical or herbal treatment. Preventative living
is your safest bet.
Another thing
that makes taking herbal supplements very tricky is that
there is little standardization between companies. Use a
reputable company or talk to someone that has personally had
results from a company's supplement. Research the company,
find out if they use organically grown herbs and the type
and percent of filler they use.
Remember to
take control of your own health care whether you opt for
medical or herbal treatment. Ask question and do your own
research. Listen to your body and remember "Everything in
Moderation" and you will be well on your way to a healthier,
happier you.
