Herbs for Health

When I think of herbs two things come to mind 1) a plant that adds flavor to food and 2) a supplement for health. Herbs are both of those things; they can enhance your favorite dishes and may have health benefits. Herbs may also have negative health consequences. The decision to use herbs for health should not be taken lightly. 

​Herbs can be sold as health supplements in the form of tablets, powders, extracts, or plants. Supplements are loosely regulated in the US. Unlike medications, supplement manufacturers are not required to show safety or effectiveness prior to going to market. However, you can get accurate, evidenced-based information about herbs and health from reputable sources. Here are a few of my favorite sites:

• National Institutes of Health. National Center for Integrative and Complementary Medicine. The section title “Herbs at a Glance” is my go to. The section provides “brief fact sheets [with] basic information about specific herbs or botanicals—common names, what the science says, potential side effects and cautions, and resources for more information.”
• National Institutes of Health, US National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus, Herbal Medicine page. The site provides a summary of herbs used as medicine with a plethora of links to more information.
• American Academy of Family Physicians. Herbal Health Products and Supplements. The site discusses supplement regulation, using supplements safely, and interactions with prescription and over-the-counter medications.

If you are thinking about using herbs for health here are five tips:

1. Be informed. Consider scientific studies, not just information from a blog, the health store, or your neighbor. The National Institutes of Health Herbs at Glance has science-based information on over 40 commonly used herbs.
2. Discuss the use of supplements with your physician, pharmacist, or licensed health provider. Herbs can interact with medications causing complications.
3. Remember, natural doesn’t mean safe. There are many natural items that are safe – snake venom, arsenic, and more. If a substance can manipulate body processes for good it may also affect processes negatively.
4. Consider your individual responses to supplements. We are all different and may not respond the same as others. Age, gender, health conditions, amounts, and psychological beliefs, can all affect the response.
5. Be aware of marketing scams. If a product claims sound too good to be true – it probably is. Be weary of anything that promises a “quick fix,” a “miracle cure,” uses personal testimonials instead of science, promotes “secret ingredients,” or claims the government or pharmaceutical companies “don’t want you to know.”

References:
National Institutes of Health. National Center for Integrative and Complementary Medicine.
National Institutes of Health. US National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus. Herbal Medicine
National Institutes of Health. US National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus. Herbal Medicine