Herbs and Homeopathic Supplements

Herbs or medicinal plants have been in use for thousands of years to treat various conditions including cold, fever, aches, cuts, injuries and allergies and so on. Plant extracts and minerals are used to make concoctions which are given in measured potencies to cure a medical condition.

The philosophy of homeopathy, a form of 'alternate medicine' is that a substance which causes symptom in a healthy person when given in small doses cures the illness by enhancing our body's healing and self-regulatory abilities.

Herbal supplements are regulated by FDA as 'Dietary Supplements' and not subjected to scientific scrutiny unlike medicines. Since many products including those labeled as, 'Natural' products have drug-like effects, it is very essential to thoroughly scrutinize their benefits and side effects before buying them.

Tips to buy best Herbs & Homeopathic supplements

Here are some useful tips for buying the best suited Herbs & Homeopathic supplements:

• Read supplement label: Carefully read the label for list of ingredients; their proportions and other active ingredients; name of the herbal supplement and name and address of distributor/manufacturer.


• Know the condition well: The individual should opt for herbal or alternative therapy only as an additional-treatment especially for serious conditions like flu, pneumonia and so on.


• Choose herbs that will aid natural healing: After listing internal and external symptoms; choose the herb/herbs after understanding their interaction with your body.


• Determine proper dosages: One should decide on the correct dosage of the herb to be used based on factors like gender, age, and disposition.


• Consider proper preparation for various herbs: Research and prepare herbs for ingestion as tea-concoctions or tinctures.

Who should avoid Herbs & Homeopathic supplements?

Although herbal supplements are usually safe; it is advisable for the following people to consult their physician before commencing herbal therapy:

• People having chronic heath conditions like heart-ailments or cancer.
• Pregnant women or lactating mothers.

An easy way to know more about ingredients of natural products is to use a 'Dietary Supplements Labels Database' available on the website of National Library of Medicine using the brand-name of the product, active ingredients, and manufacturer and so on or information in websites like 'Natural Herbs Guide'.

Safety tips

Herbs and homeopathic supplements can be bought from health-food stores without prescription. Combining herbal supplements with previously prescribed medications can lead to harmful or life-threatening results since many of them contain active ingredients which have strong effects in our body. Individuals should consult their doctor before commencing ingestion of these supplements.

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