Herbal Remedies: What Every Consumer Should Know

Herbal remedies, dietary supplements, and botanical medicines are part of the growing interest in alternative medicines and therapies that people are seeking today. When you walk into many large supermarkets you may see an aisle dedicated to natural medicines. Spend any time online researching health questions and you will be bombarded with advertisements for the "next big thing" in supplements that will claim to cure everything from earaches to diabetes to cancer.

I am a great believer in the efficacy and safety of natural products when used properly in a patient's overall regimen. I also think it's great that more and more people are interested in taking an active role in their own health plans, but as the old saying goes, "A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing," especially when it comes to self-prescribing medicines. Here are three vital things every consumer should consider about botanicals and dietary supplements:

1) Just because a plant or herb is natural doesn' t make it safe for you to take, even if it is sold as an alternative medicine.

2) Not all herbal remedies or natural medicines are created equal.

3) As always, if the claims about a product sound too good to be true, they probably are.

Let's consider each of these points in a little more detail. First, just because a plant or herb is natural doesn't make it safe for you to take, even if it is sold as an alternative medicine.

Since herbs and plants must be used in strong enough doses to make them effective in the treatment of many conditions, there can also be contraindications for the use of them. Contraindications can occur if the herb is taken over an extended period of time (1- 2 months) or in large doses that could result in side effects. Drug interactions may also occur when an herb is taken. Combining an herbal remedy with another drug can be problematic and possibly dangerous.

The combination of a pharmaceutical drug with an herb may interfere with the activity of the herb or drug, thus producing a decrease or increase in the effectiveness of the drug. For example, willow (salix) is used as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain reliever) just as aspirin is used in inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and for headache pain. Willow is also used for fevers. Like aspirin, willow is contraindicated in conjunction with other blood thinning agents ( such as coumadin). It is also contraindicated in patients with bleeding disorders like hemophilia. It is absolutely essential that you keep your primary care physician and all others who may prescribe medicines for you ( natural or pharmaceutical) aware of any and all medications you are taking.

2) Not all herbal remedies or natural medicines are created equal.

Pharmaceutical drugs are tightly controlled and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure standardization and quality in the products. However, herbal remedies and dietary supplements are classified as "food" by the FDA and therefore are regulated in a different way. The following is an excerpt from the web site of the National Center for Alternative and Complementary Health, a division of the National Institutes of Health:

Currently, the FDA regulates supplements as foods rather than drugs. In general, the laws about putting foods ( including supplements) on the market and keeping them on the market are less strict than the laws for drugs. Specifically:

*Research studies in people to prove a supplement' s safety are not required before the supplement is marketed, unlike for drugs.

*The manufacturer does not have to prove that the supplement is effective, unlike for drugs. The manufacturer can say that the product addresses a nutrient deficiency, supports health, or reduces the risk of developing a health problem, if that is true. If the manufacturer does make a claim, it must be followed by the statement "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."

*The manufacturer does not have to prove supplement quality.

Specifically:

*The FDA does not analyze the content of dietary supplements.

*At this time, supplement manufacturers must meet the requirements of the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for foods. GMPs describe conditions under which products must be prepared, packed, and stored. Food GMPs do not always cover all issues of supplement quality. Some manufacturers voluntarily follow the FDA's GMPs for drugs, which are stricter.

*Some manufacturers use the term "standardized" to describe efforts to make their products consistent. However, U.S. law does not define standardization.

Therefore, the use of this term (or similar terms such as "verified" or "certified") does not guarantee product quality or consistency.

(Source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, http://nccam.nih.gov/health/bottle/)

The bottom line? Some manufacturers produce better products than others. The herb must be of sufficient potency and meet certain standards to be truly effective. I like to look at the research done on the herbs that I prescribe to my patients before recommending a particular herbal remedy or botanical medicine.

3) As always, if the claims about a product sound too good to be true, they probably are.

There are a lot of natural products on the market that are being hyped with some outrageous claims. It is true that I have seen some pretty amazing results with some botanical medicines, but use common sense when considering a new product. There is no "cure all" with herbal remedies. There are more scientific clinical studies being done every day on herbal products, and I try to stick with products that have been tested and proven effective. Used with a complete treatment program, botanicals can be very helpful in promoting the overall health of a patient.

If you are one of the millions of people who are researching and considering the use of herbal remedies, I congratulate you for wanting to take an active role in your own health plan. Be sure to be an informed consumer, and keep your health care providers abreast of all the medicines or supplements you may be taking, natural or otherwise.

Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic physician in Mesa, Arizona. Before entering medical school she was a registered nurse. Dr. Marcantel has over twenty-five years of experience in the health care field including diabetes management, women's health, weight loss, and mental health. She practices holistic, integrative patient care. For more information please visit her site at http://www.drmarcantel.com.

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Gum Disease And Dental Checkups

About a year ago, my dentist and hygienist said that I had gingivitis. Actually, I suspect that I've had it for over a decade. The interesting thing about gingivitis is that it doesn't make much noise as it slowly erodes your gum tissue. Sometimes, a lot of bone loss can occur before you become aware of it.

What made me pay attention was when the hygienist wanted me to sign a paper that the office would not be responsible if I lost my teeth. At first I saw this as a possible marketing ploy, since they wanted me to have a root scaling and planing procedure done. That sounded painful and expensive.

I figured that having me sign that paper was part of their attempt to move me in the direction of accepting this treatment. They wanted me to start right away. I declined. I wasn't about to approve a treatment that sounded so serious without a little investigation of my own.

What I found was disturbing. I think that a lot of people don't quite understand that bleeding gums, no matter how minute the bleeding, is a bad sign. For example, I've heard someone say that their gums only bleed if they push too hard with a toothbrush. She thinks that means she doesn't have gingivitis or gum disease.

However, you would have to push fairly hard to make healthy gum tissue bleed. Therefore, if a person has gums that bleed from brushing or flossing then there is a chance that person has gingivitis or worse, periodontal disease. A person that notices bleeding gums should check with a dentist for diagnosis and treatment.

I also discovered that a root scaling and planing was not something I wanted either. In fact, a relative of mine had the procedure done. In her opinion, it made her gums worse. The procedure involves numbing the gum tissue and scraping underneath the gum line down to the root to remove any built-up tartar or plaque.

I researched some possible alternative solutions and found something I thought might be promising. I tried it and by the next visit my gums had become healthier. They were better to the point that the hygienist and dentist said that there was no more tarter under the gum line. I no longer needed the root scaling and planing treatment.

I recently visited the dentist again and they said my gums are continuing to improve. This time there was zero bleeding during the probing part where they check for pocket depth with a metal instrument. No bleeding during a checkup is a good sign.

Gingivitis can be hazardous to your health. Infected gums can provide a pathway for bacteria to enter the blood stream. In addition, gingivitis is the major cause of tooth loss and not cavities as one might expect.

If you have or think you might have gingivitis, gum disease or any other health problem, be sure to visit your doctor or dentist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

David Snape is the author of: "What You Should Know About Gum Disease", available at http://Gingivitiskiller.com Dave also writes about and answers question on health, fitness and wellness topics at http://ToBeInformed.com He also writes for http://AllThingsPondered.com

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