June 29, 2006

The Pros and Cons of Taking Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements are becoming increasingly popular options for treating a number of health disorders as well as for the promotion of general good health. Not all health professionals are convinced, however. While experimental evidence has shown that some herbal supplements are effective in the treatment of some disorders, they are not subjected to the same sort of rigorous testing and certification that pharmaceuticals must undergo and therefore herbal supplements can not be guaranteed to be either safe or effective.

Those who use herbal supplements are convinced of their efficacy. For instance, supplementing with such herbs as Ginko Biloba and Saint Johns Wort have been used to successfully treat anxiety and stress disorders, and ginger, papaya, and other herbal supplements have been shown to be effective in the treatment of certain digestive disorders. Many other illnesses and conditions have effective herbal treatments available as well. Proponents of herbal supplements argue that herbal treatments are better than their pharmaceutical counterparts because they are created by nature and, as such, are less likely to have harmful side effects.

While herbal supplements are becoming increasingly accepted by the western public at large, the western medical community has not been quite as accepting. The key point of contention is the fact that herbal supplements do not have to undergo the rigorous FDA certification process that manufactured medications must pass before they are made available for general consumption.

The bottom line is that herbal supplements are potentially effective treatments for some conditions, the lack of regulatory oversight means that herbal supplements are somewhat risky. Therefore, you should always consult with you physician before taking herbal supplements

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