Safety Concerns of Herbal Supplements

In case you were waiting to hear about some statistics to understand the growing popularity of herbal therapy, listen to this. It is estimated that there are over 18 million adults, who are currently on some form of herbal medication. Needless to mention, that this kind of popularity is bound to put the medical fraternity into a compelling situation. Obviously, they need to revisit the areas of safety and efficacy of such alternative form of therapy. Let us take the example of an herbal medicine which is labeled '100% natural'. Now, as a lay consumer, can you be sure that the product is completely safe? You have no other choice but to allow some wild guesses to rule your judgmental senses. You presume they are safe. But recent research reveals otherwise. They tell us that many of these 'natural' medicines contain harmful chemical preservatives which not only reduce the efficacy of the ingredients but can also result in harmful side effects. One of the best known uses of herbal supplements is during weight loss programs. If we take into cognizance that these supplements are in no way monitored by any kind of health authorities, can we be sure that they are free from fillers like starch, etc? There are three things which you can do as a lay consumer. Firstly consult your physician regarding his expert opinion about the ingredients; check the manufacturers' reputation in the market and lastly, go through the product reviews on the internet. You are digging your own grave if you believe in any kind of endorsement from celebrities, etc before using the product. Now that there are so many kinds of adverse reports circulating in the market about herbal supplements, you should practice all kinds of caution before ingesting any or even before you use any product externally for your hair, skin and so on. You have to remember that in the absence of any regulatory monitoring taking place, a single ingredient may be used in a range of products in varying quantities. Therefore, if you consume more than one product, you run the risk of consuming an excessive amount of the same ingredient with potentially dangerous side effects. Hence in case you are thinking of substituting your allopathic medications with herbal therapy, not only do you ensure that the ingredients go through some kind of approved processing standards, but also that the maker of the product is well known. Remember there is no dearth of small, unknown and unscrupulous companies out there, waiting to make some quick money at your expense. Here are some further guidelines aimed at keeping you safe: 1. It is best to avoid herbal medicines, without the back up of scientific studies or trials if you are pregnant or breast feeding. 2. Do not give herbal supplements to children below 3 years of age. Never give the child any such medicine without consulting the pediatrician. 3. Avoid self-medication for treating any serious or chronic illness. 4. Ensure that the packaging contains the maker's name, contact address, dates of manufacture and expiry, batch number and list of all ingredients. Do visit Irsan's latest website at wide width boots [http://widewidthboots.org/] which contains the reviews and best deals on dunham boots [http://widewidthboots.org/dunham-boots.html] and other information about boots. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irsan_Komarga