Is herbal medicine safer than perscription medicine?

Question

is this true? if so can, can you provide scientific articles that provide some support for this claim.

Answer 1

Yes, it is. If you look on http://www.drugs.com http://www.webmd.com or any other reputable drug information website, you'll see many side effects and warnings listed on each drug... I've never heard of a drug without a warning or side effect listed, in fact.

If you look on those same websites or even http://www.pubmed.org , you'll be able to look at most supplements, and most of them don't have warnings except to check with a doctor/pharmacist if you are taking any prescriptions because of all the side effects from the drugs that may interact with supplements. Along similar lines, many of them have warnings against taking them if you are pregnant or nursing, but that's because many of them help your body's resistive functions. Unfortunately, the body sees a fetus as a foreign entity (like an illness, since it wasn't entirely created by the woman's body), which is why women often get morning sickness. Any herbs that may support the body's resistive functions or boost the immune system might give it enough support to make a pregnant woman feel sicker or even give enough support to attack the embryo.

Answer 2

Never. The companies that peddle 'herbal medicine' are exempt from the safety and efficacy regulations that pharmaceutical companies must comply with. That means that there is no burden upon them to prove that their goods are safe (won't kill you, injure you, or make you sick) or effective.

Consider it. Herbal medicine is totally unregulated. Prescription medicine is highly regulated. I know what I'd want going into my mouth ....

Answer 3

Hi Question,

I truly think the answer to your question is that they both have their risks, and neither is "safer" than the other.  

Medicinals, whether herbal or prescription, can be extremely safe when they are given in the proper doses for the correct reasons.

Where the problem arises is when excessive dosages, hazardous combinations, or incorrect diagnosis with relationship to the medicinals' usage occurs.

Answer 4

Like any substance that can affect the way your body works, herbs can kill you.

The assumption that "it's natural" means "it's safe" ignores that castor beans, oleander, and water hemlock are all100% herbal and extremely lethal.

You can't make sweeping assertions about either one: if used according to instructions and prescribed by a knowedgeable individual, either one is reasonably safe.

Answer 5

Either can be a problem depending on what herb and what drug and dosage!!!

Safest energy medicine is flower essences, one of the best sets is the Australian Bush Flower Essences set being and having a repertory that deals with mental, emotional and physical illnesses

So IMO these flower essences are the safest and most efficient of the medical systems.

"Australian Bush Flower Healing" by Ian White

ISBN-10: 073380

Yahoo email group discussing Australian Bush Flower Essences

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ABF...