Isherbal medicine safe?

Question

i wanted to buy herbal medicine for ulcer at http://testblogherbal.blogspot.com do u think its safe?

Answer 1

Most of them probably are, some of them definitely aren't.  You have to be careful about the source.  There have been problems recently with herbs and other concoctions coming from India and China that are contaminated with lead, cadmium, arsenic and other heavy metals.

There are two real concerns with the unregulated "herbal" industry.  One, claims of efficacy are pretty weak for most of them, and they tend to be more anecdotal or traditional cures, without any actual evidence they do what is claimed.

Two, safety is not established in any formal way, and there is really no dose-response data available for the vast majority of herbal products. In most cases, the active ingredient is unknown, and there can be huge variations in the different alkaloids from plant to plant, from one years crop to another etc.  Also, we know nothing about how long the herbs maintain any potency (assuming they have it at all)

There is no evidence that any herbal treatment is either equal to or superior to a pharmacological treatment of the same condition.  And despite all the Altie hype and paranoia about "natural"....the body can't tell the difference between chemical made by plants, and chemical made by a factory.

Any chemical you put into your body...whether in the form of an herb grown on an organic farm, or an antibiotic produced in a Swiss factory is potentially helpful or harmful.

Answer 2

Herbal medicine is incredibly safe, provided you know what you are doing.  If you do not, then I say it is IMPERATIVE you consult with a professional herbalist, homeopath or naturopath.  As you are new, and a beginner at this, I would take no herb, either as a simple (one herb) or as a compounded formula (multiple herbs), until you research (or at the very least, ASK), what each herb is and why it's in the formula.  This is called taking responsibility for one's own health and well-being, and it is perhaps the single biggest part of true healing and taking true responsibility.  Quickly, herbs that you can, in general, take without worrying are these:  mints, chamomile, linden or tilia, cinnamon, ginger, clover, burdock, dandelion (but if you overdo any bitter or liver/gall bladder herb, do NOT be surprised if you get a good diarrhea attack...), mallows, nettles, plantain, most of the soporific herbs, if taken as teas; this would include hops, oatstraw, passionflower, blue vervain, valerian, scullcap, etc, etc.  Worse case scenario with these is that you would be really sleepy for awhile.  Most herbal tinctures are taken by the dropperful which is about 30 drops or 1 tsp at a time.  Nutritive herbs like nettles, for example, can be taken in higher doses, as I've said, or even made into things like greens and soups and are delicious.  Other herbs that could be used like this would included plantain, docks, cowslips (or marsh marigolds), purslane, ramps, cattail tubers, and many others.  Get yourself some Edible Wild guides and go foraging.  Spring is an excellent season for this.  Burdock can be dug up and julienned and sauteed in sesame oil with carrots, onions, garlic and sesame seeds into a dish called kimpira.  It can also be used in soups just like any other root vegetable.  Burdock is a lymphatic alterative, an adaptogen and a blood purifier.  It is extremely nutritious and is delicious!  The more you study, the more you learn, the more you will see that there really is no difference between herbs and roots and vegetables and flowers.  They are all a part of the natural world, put there to heal and to nourish us and to be our companions, our allies and our friends.  All plants are a huge blessing and their study and use forms the best part of my life.

Answer 3

Yes. Alot of propaganda trying to show otherwise, by the pharmaceutical cartel.

Some do contain carcinogens, like Butterbur extract, if it is not pharmaceutical grade. Some also claim that Chinese herbs have harmful chemicals in them.

Even if the remote possibilty of the worst side effect were to happen with herbs, it would be no where near the destructive effect of pharmaceutical drugs, which can cause liver damge, heart problems, suicidal thoughts, and even internal bleeding. Just look at the statistics for iotrogenic illness, doctor-caused illness is the 4th biggest killer in the USA.

Answer 4

as long as it is pure herbal then it will be safe. research on the ingredients first..