February 9, 2010 Safety & Quality Issues of Herbs
In my office we use herbal supplement to support the body when it is stressed. They are a natural way to help the body heal and recover. They have been used for centuries and in many places in the world. But, every now and then you hear of a person who tried an herb and it did not help him/her. When I ask the patient to bring the supplement in, I find the reason why. Here are some reasons why I think some people do not improve with herbal supplements:
1- Wrong herb for the wrong problem.
A person takes an herb for blood pressure and gets very good results. Then he sends his friend to get the same herb. It might or might not work for him/her. Blood pressure could be caused by a lung problem, a kidney problem, a liver problem or a nervous system problem just to name a few. If the blood pressure is due to a kidney problem, then you need a kidney herb. If it is due to a liver problem then you would need a liver herb etc… So an herb has helped you with blood pressure but it might not help your friend whose blood pressure problem is stemming from a different cause.
2- Substitution:
Every herb has an active chemical in it that makes this herb “work”. This active component is found in different part of the plant. Some herbs their active components are in their roots (Echinacea – Ginseng), others their active ingredient is in the leaf or flowers (Holy Basil – Raspberry ) and others the active ingredient is in the bark of the plant (Albizia – Cramp Bark). Of course, the roots of the plans are always more expensive than other parts because if you take the whole root, the plant dies. Often you will find supplements with the wrong plant parts on the label, or they won’t tell you which part they are using. (That is what makes some supplements cheaper than others). Wrong plant part means no active ingredients which translates to no action in the body. Some companies substitute a whole different herb for another. Golden seal was found to be substituted frequently with other herbs. (The genuine Golden Seal is almost $100 per pound.)
3- Product not complying with label claim:
The company can put that they have such herb, in such concentration, from this part of the plant, with the active component measured and it’s all incorrect. When the product is tested, it does not match the claims on the label.
There is a company called www.consumerlabs.com. They are an independent company you can subscribe to. They test all kinds of supplements. They will let you know from the tests they ran which company has the best track records and good products.
I use 2 herbal companies for different products. The best herbal company I found is Medi Herb. It is by prescription only, pharmaceutical grade products.
If you have any questions on the herbs you take either bring them in or go visit www.consumerlabs.com.
Common Herbs
We had a lecture a couple of month ago titled “Your Herbal Medicine Cabinet”. We discussed some of the most common herbs. Here are a few of them and their uses.
Infections:
These are some herbs that you can take (as adults) for infections. In the first 3 days of the infection I recommend Andrographis. It is one of the strongest herb for immune support. It is to be taken at the beginning of the infection ONLY and for a short period. Use it and then keep it in the fridge as your first line of defense for next time. Echinacea is a good herb for long term immune support. It can be taken long term at least during the second half of the infection.
Allergies:
For allergies, Albizia is a natural antihistamine herb. I have had patients take this with good results. For light allergies that give you light congestion, dry throat and itchy red eyes an herb called Euphrasia is effective. A powerful herb for the mucus membranes to heal (respiratory-urinary-digestive) is Golden Seal. It is also a very powerful antimicrobial herb. Take it if your congestion and mucus are turning green.
Important safety information:
It is important to note that herbs are not intended to be a treatment or prevention of disease or this article be a substitute for medical advice. It is important to see your doctor for that. These are general information and might not be applicable in your specific case.
Herbs are very powerful. Some herbs have side effects. Some people might be allergic to some herbs. Some herbs have an interaction with prescription drugs and need to be avoided while you are taking the drugs. Please consult us or your physician before taking any herb.
Chiropractic & Family Wellness, PC | 13461 Midlothian Tpke | Midlothian | VA | 23113
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