Herbal alternative medicine -
Herbal teas , or tisanes, are the resultant liquid of extracting herbs into water, though they are made in a few different ways. Infusions are hot water extracts of herbs, such as chamomile or mint , through steeping.
Decoctions are the long-term boiled extracts, usually of harder substances like roots or bark. Maceration is the cold infusion of plants with high mucilage -content, such as sage or thyme. To make macerates, plants are chopped and added to cold water.
They are then left to stand for 7 to 12 hours depending on herb used. For most macerates, 10 hours is used. Tinctures are alcoholic extracts of herbs, which are generally stronger than herbal teas.
Liquid extracts are liquids with a lower ethanol percentage than tinctures. They are usually made by vacuum distilling tinctures.
Dry extracts are extracts of plant material that are evaporated into a dry mass. They can then be further refined to a capsule or tablet. The exact composition of a herbal product is influenced by the method of extraction.
A tea will be rich in polar components because water is a polar solvent. Oil on the other hand is a non-polar solvent and it will absorb non-polar compounds.
Alcohol lies somewhere in between. Many herbs are applied topically to the skin in a variety of forms. Essential oil extracts can be applied to the skin, usually diluted in a carrier oil.
Many essential oils can burn the skin or are simply too high dose used straight; diluting them in olive oil or another food grade oil such as almond oil can allow these to be used safely as a topical.
Salves , oils, balms , creams, and lotions are other forms of topical delivery mechanisms. Most topical applications are oil extractions of herbs. Taking a food grade oil and soaking herbs in it for anywhere from weeks to months allows certain phytochemicals to be extracted into the oil.
This oil can then be made into salves, creams, lotions, or simply used as an oil for topical application. Many massage oils, antibacterial salves, and wound healing compounds are made this way. Inhalation , as in aromatherapy , can be used as a treatment. Consumption of herbs may cause adverse effects.
Although many consumers believe that herbal medicines are safe because they are natural, herbal medicines and synthetic drugs may interact, causing toxicity to the consumer. Herbal remedies can also be dangerously contaminated, and herbal medicines without established efficacy, may unknowingly be used to replace prescription medicines.
Standardization of purity and dosage is not mandated in the United States, but even products made to the same specification may differ as a result of biochemical variations within a species of plant.
Examples of highly toxic herbs include poison hemlock and nightshade. A case of major potassium depletion has been attributed to chronic licorice ingestion, [42] and consequently professional herbalists avoid the use of licorice where they recognize that this may be a risk.
Black cohosh has been implicated in a case of liver failure. Examples of herbal treatments with likely cause-effect relationships with adverse events include aconite which is often a legally restricted herb , Ayurvedic remedies , broom , chaparral , Chinese herb mixtures, comfrey , herbs containing certain flavonoids, germander , guar gum , liquorice root , and pennyroyal.
John's wort , khat , betel nut , the restricted herb ephedra , and guarana. There is also concern with respect to the numerous well-established interactions of herbs and drugs.
For example, dangerously low blood pressure may result from the combination of a herbal remedy that lowers blood pressure together with prescription medicine that has the same effect.
Some herbs may amplify the effects of anticoagulants. In a study, FDA identified active pharmaceutical additives in over of analyzed dietary supplements sold as "herbal", "natural" or "traditional". A study found that one-third of herbal supplements sampled contained no trace of the herb listed on the label.
One bottle labeled as St. John's wort was found to actually contain Alexandrian senna , a laxative. Researchers at the University of Adelaide found in that almost 20 percent of herbal remedies surveyed were not registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration , despite this being a condition for their sale.
Out of products, only 15 had ingredients that matched their TGA listing and packaging. In , the New York Attorney General issued cease and desist letters to four major U. retailers GNC , Target , Walgreens , and Walmart who were accused of selling herbal supplements that were mislabeled and potentially dangerous.
In some countries, formalized training and minimum education standards exist for herbalists, although these are not necessarily uniform within or between countries. In Australia, for example, the self-regulated status of the profession as of resulted in variable standards of training, and numerous loosely formed associations setting different educational standards.
federal restrictions for marketing herbs as cures for medical conditions, or essentially practicing as an unlicensed physician.
Over the years —, the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA issued warning letters to numerous herbalism companies for illegally marketing products under "conditions that cause them to be drugs under section g 1 of the Act [21 U.
Federal Trade Commission issued warnings to several hundred American companies for promoting false claims that herbal products could prevent or treat COVID disease.
The World Health Organization WHO , the specialized agency of the United Nations UN that is concerned with international public health, published Quality control methods for medicinal plant materials in to support WHO Member States in establishing quality standards and specifications for herbal materials, within the overall context of quality assurance and control of herbal medicines.
In the European Union EU , herbal medicines are regulated under the Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products. In the United States, herbal remedies are regulated dietary supplements by the Food and Drug Administration FDA under current good manufacturing practice cGMP policy for dietary supplements.
Canadian regulations are described by the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate which requires an eight-digit Natural Product Number or Homeopathic Medicine Number on the label of licensed herbal medicines or dietary supplements. Some herbs, such as cannabis and coca , are outright banned in most countries though coca is legal in most of the South American countries where it is grown.
The Cannabis plant is used as a herbal medicine , and as such is legal in some parts of the world. Since , the sales of ephedra as a dietary supplement is prohibited in the United States by the FDA, [70] and subject to Schedule III restrictions in the United Kingdom.
Herbalism has been criticized as a potential " minefield " of unreliable product quality, safety hazards, and potential for misleading health advice. Unethical practices by some herbalists and manufacturers, which may include false advertising about health benefits on product labels or literature, [7] and contamination or use of fillers during product preparation, [38] [72] may erode consumer confidence about services and products.
Paraherbalism is the pseudoscientific use of extracts of plant or animal origin as supposed medicines or health-promoting agents. It relies on the false belief that preserving the complexity of substances from a given plant with less processing is safer and potentially more effective, for which there is no evidence either condition applies.
Phytochemical researcher Varro Eugene Tyler described paraherbalism as "faulty or inferior herbalism based on pseudoscience", using scientific terminology but lacking scientific evidence for safety and efficacy.
Tyler listed ten fallacies that distinguished herbalism from paraherbalism, including claims that there is a conspiracy to suppress safe and effective herbs, herbs can not cause harm, that whole herbs are more effective than molecules isolated from the plants, herbs are superior to drugs, the doctrine of signatures the belief that the shape of the plant indicates its function is valid, dilution of substances increases their potency a doctrine of the pseudoscience of homeopathy , astrological alignments are significant, animal testing is not appropriate to indicate human effects, anecdotal evidence is an effective means of proving a substance works and herbs were created by God to cure disease.
Tyler suggests that none of these beliefs have any basis in fact. Native Americans used about 2, of the approximately 20, plant species that are native to North America.
In Andean healing practices, the use of Entheogens , in particular the San Pedro cactus Echinopsis pachanoi is still a vital component, and has been around for millennia. Some researchers trained in both Western and traditional Chinese medicine have attempted to deconstruct ancient medical texts in the light of modern science.
In , Tu Youyou , a pharmaceutical chemist and Nobel Prize winner , extracted the anti-malarial drug artemisinin from sweet wormwood , a traditional Chinese treatment for intermittent fevers. In India, Ayurvedic medicine has quite complex formulas with 30 or more ingredients, including a sizable number of ingredients that have undergone " alchemical processing ", chosen to balance dosha.
Over species of medicinal plants have been documented by C. Those are used by Amchis, the practitioners of this medical system. In Indonesia , especially among the Javanese , the jamu traditional herbal medicine may have originated in the Mataram Kingdom era, some years ago.
Though possibly influenced by Indian Ayurveda systems, the Indonesia archipelago holds numerous indigenous plants not found in India, including plants similar to those in Australia beyond the Wallace Line.
Herbalists tend to use extracts from parts of plants, such as the roots or leaves, [88] believing that plants are subject to environmental pressures and therefore develop resistance to threats such as radiation, reactive oxygen species and microbial attack to survive, providing defensive phytochemicals of use in herbalism.
Indigenous healers often claim to have learned by observing that sick animals change their food preferences to nibble at bitter herbs they would normally reject. The habit of changing diet has been shown to be a physical means of purging intestinal parasites. Sick animals tend to forage plants rich in secondary metabolites , such as tannins and alkaloids.
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Main articles: History of herbalism and Materia medica. For partial list of herbs with known adverse effects, see List of herbs with known adverse effects. See also: Traditional medicine. Start Here. Related Issues. Alerts and Advisories National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Herbal Supplements and Heart Medicines May Not Mix Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Also in Spanish Natural Doesn't Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health St.
John's Wort and Depression National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. John's Wort National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Tea Tree Oil National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Thunder God Vine National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Turmeric National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health Valerian National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health What Are Chia Seeds?
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Yohimbe National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Clinical Trials. gov: Herbal Medicine National Institutes of Health.
Article: Genus Curcuma: chemical and ethnopharmacological role in aging process. Article: Ethnomedicinal plants in Champadevi rural municipality, Okhaldhunga district, Nepal.
Article: Interventions to Attenuate Cardiovascular Calcification Progression: A Systematic Review of Randomized Herbal Medicine -- see more articles. Find an Expert. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. One review found valerian to be somewhat effective for inducing sleep, but many of the study results were based on subjective reports from participants Valerian is relatively safe, though it may cause mild side effects like headaches and digestive issues.
Look for this herb online , as well as various health food stores. Valerian root is often used as a natural sleep and anti-anxiety aid, though evidence supporting its efficacy is weak. Chamomile is a flowering plant that also happens to be one of the most popular herbal medicines in the world.
The flowers are most often used to make tea, but the leaves may also be dried and used for making tea, medicinal extracts, or topical compresses.
For thousands of years, chamomile has been used as a remedy for nausea, diarrhea, constipation , stomach pain, urinary tract infections, wounds, and upper respiratory infections This herb packs over active compounds, many of which are thought to contribute to its numerous benefits Several test-tube and animal studies have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activity, though insufficient human research is available Yet, a few small human studies suggest that chamomile treats diarrhea, emotional disturbances as well as cramping associated with premenstrual syndrome PMS , and pain and inflammation linked to osteoarthritis You can find it in most grocery stores or order it online.
Despite limited scientific evidence, chamomile remains one of the most popular herbal medicines in the world and is used to treat a broad range of ailments.
For instance, raw elderberries can be toxic, St. Additionally, many herbal medicines have not been studied rigorously enough to verify their safety for pregnant or breastfeeding women. Another important factor to consider is that herbal medicines are not strictly regulated like other medications.
As such, some supplements may list ingredients improperly or even contain compounds not stated on the label. Thus, you should opt for brands that have been tested for quality by a third-party organization, such as U.
Pharmacopeia or NSF International. Herbal medicines carry many possible side effects, so you should consult your healthcare provider prior to taking them. When shopping, choose brands that have been certified for purity and quality.
Many people around the world rely on herbal medicines to treat health conditions. Countless varieties exist, but some of the most popular include gingko, ginseng, ginger , turmeric, and chamomile. Though their applications tend to be very broad, many of their supposed benefits lack strong scientific evidence.
Keep in mind that, like conventional drugs, herbal remedies may interact negatively with other medicines. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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For the best browsing experience mdeicine enable Medicihe. Instructions for Sleep and nutrition for athletes Herbal alternative medicine Hernal Internet Explorerother browsers. Herbal medicine uses plants, Herbal alternative medicine mixtures of plant extracts, to treat illness and promote health. There is not enough reliable scientific evidence to use it as a treatment for cancer. Herbal medicines are made from plants. They use combinations of plant parts, for example leaves, flowers or roots. Each part of the plant can have a different medicinal use. Herbal alyernative Herbal alternative medicine its origins Dark chocolate pleasure ancient cultures. It altrrnative the medicinal use of Herbal alternative medicine Herrbal treat disease and enhance general health and wellbeing. Some herbs have potent powerful ingredients and should be taken with the same level of caution as pharmaceutical medications. In fact, many pharmaceutical medications are based on man-made versions of naturally occurring compounds found in plants. For instance, the heart medicine digitalis was derived from the foxglove plant.
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