Cultures all over the word have been using herbal medicines for ages. The first written records of herbal knowledge were found in the Middle East. Clay tablets from the Mesopotamian area, and papyrus papers from Egypt were found with ingredients for herbal medicines, and the ailments that they treated. Next came the Greco-Roman period that brought about the use of the first herbal medicine books. These books included extensive drawings and descriptions o

Many herbal remedies have side effects that are associated with their use. Many people consider the use of herbal medicines completely safe just because the ingredients are primarily natural. They are very wrong. As with prescription drugs, most herbals have some sort of side effects that are possible. Most of the side effects are mild, but it is the fact that people do not take precautions against them that makes them dangerous. Allergic reactions to the particular herbs can easily happen. Also, sometimes the body cannot handle certain herbal medicines. For example, Ma Huang, a common herbal replacement for ephedrine is very dangerous. It can give users heart attacks and other health problems. Creatine, and other herbal replacements to creatine, is a dangerous supplement that can cause serious side effects. Creatine’s popularity has grown so much that consumers often do not research the dangers before using. Creatine, when taken with certain fruit juices, can form creatinin that can severely damage the kidneys. (“Creatine” np).

A herbalist is definitely a professional, but a self-proclaimed one at that. Herbalists are not licensed practitioners so they are not considered doctors. Currently, there is no system of regulation, licensing, or certifying herbalists. This fact alone allows one to question the validity of this practice. There are different types of herbalists. Some focus on the harvesting of wild herbs, while others manufacture herbal products for public use. (“Herbal Medicine Schools and Careers Q & A” 2).

The quality of herbs is a definite danger to the patients that use them. Imported herbals often contain additives and other preservatives that could be dangerous. For instance, certain additives that an Eastern culture uses could be toxic to people in the United States. Also, the herbs could contain other foreign materials. Pesticides, heavy metals, and other foreign objects have all been found in Chinese herbs. Also, the only way to definitely know the quality of the herbs one is purchasing is to do extensive research and learn for oneself. This is where FDA approval would benefit the most. The FDA would not allow herbs that were not good quality to be sold to the public. (Rose np).

These are just three examples of some popular herbs that can most definitely be questioned. These herbs are not safe just because they are “all-natural.” They are still medications, and professionals should be contacted before they are used. Also, none of these examples have been clinically tested for validity. No one actually knows if these herbs actually do what they are intended to do. This is true of most herbal medications. This is a big reason why the FDA needs to start approving these medications before they are released to the public.

Although many people preach the benefits of herbal medications, they often do not publicize the many dangers of these medicines. There are many different types of dangers that can be associated with herbal medications. Some of these dangers include misdiagnosis, side effects, interactions with other medicines, and poor quality of the herb.

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