About a month ago I decided to research herbal supplements and add some to my diet. I have a few medical situations that regular medical tactics are not completely alleviating. I decided to investigate some alternative help; not to replace the medicine I was taking for my problems, but to perhaps approach them from a different direction.
Because of a strong history of breast cancer in my family, I do not want to take hormone replacement therapy to relieve menopause symptoms. I am taking Blach Cohosh instead. It may be in my imagination or just coincidence, but I have noticed my hot flashes are getting fewer and farther between, and my night sweats have been non-existant the past two weeks.
I began taking Horsetail for urinary tract health. I haven't had a UTI since taking Horsetail, but again, that may be coincidence. I was getting a UTI several times a year, and they are no fun. There are also other benefits Horsetail claims, such as help with the tissue that connects bones to muscle.
Valerian Root is touted as a dependable and long-used help for anxiety and as a sleep aid. I take it every day but I have to admit, I haven't noticed any difference in my level of anxiety so far. This may be one of the supplements that takes a few weeks longer to "kick in."
Because of my pancreatitis and involvement of that with my liver, I've been taking Milk Thistle. This herb is supposed to be a powerful help to clearing out a cloggy, fatty liver. Since my bile backs up when my bile ducts narrow with inflammation, I thought this would be a good choice to try. My digestion over the past couple of weeks does seem to be better with less incidents of indigestion and gastric distress. I think the Milk Thistle is also making me urinate more often. On days I've forgotten to take it, I make less bathroom trips. Maybe it's eliminating the grunge from my liver through my urine?
Also as a digestion aid, Ginger Root was suggested. As I said, for the past two weeks I've had less incidences of gastric problems, so I should probably give some of the credit to taking this herb. It is also touted to relieve occasional upset stomachs and gas problems, not only chronic gastric troubles.
My Mother-in-law took St. John's Wort and Siberian Root Ginsa religiously to ward off dementia and Alzheimer's. She was still sharp minded when she died at 82, so I added them to my little pharmacy of herbal supplements. I don't notice a difference, but I'm not any spacier than I was before, so I think I'll keep taking them.
I bought Noni Juice at a local pharmacy and drank the bottle one ounce a day at a time as instructed. It is supposed to be a powerful antioxidant. Then I read an online article from a very reputable source that said it is worthless and mostly sugar water. I finished the bottle but haven't bought another.
What is your opinion on herbal supplement? Do you take any, and if so, what? Have you had any bad experiences with herbal supplements?
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Comments: 25
We were drinking noni juice too, but at $22 a bottle, we quit. Hard to guarantee that what is in it is high quality, since everyone jumped on the bandwagon.
Herbal remedies are not innocuous substances! They can be very, VERY powerful drugs and should not be disregarded in the total treatment of a patient. They can also conflict with and cause toxicity of other medicines. For instance, grapefruit can cause colchicine toxicity, and most of the grapefruit based supplements can as well, a fact that few patients are told when put on colchicine. The same is true of other supplements, and it is strictly a case of buyer beware. I have a friend whose father bled to death on the surgical table for no discernible reason other than that he was taking huge amounts of a garlic preparation and didn't tell his surgeon. Garlic apparently acts as an anticoagulant, although that isn't why he was taking it. He was taking it for mosquito repellant. The surgeon told them that if he had known that prior to the surgery he could have told him to stop it two weeks before surgery and would have been fine.
My mother takes TONS of supplements - does constant research for anything new.
Her doctor has told her that the supplements have probably added to her longevity. She'll be 81 next month.
One thing that I discovered years ago and still take is Ginseng and Royal Jelly also sold
as Ginseng and Bee Jelly. I found that it increases enery and mental alertness. I also take fish oil.
As Shannon says Noni juice seems to have a lot of me too products out there, however I have tried the freeze dried supplements and they were ok.
I'm a homeopath, and I treat many common ailments with aromatherapy. And the very first thing you need to learn when using natural therapies is that NATURAL does not equal ALWAYS SAFE. For example, sage is an amazing antimicrobal and has a variety of uses. BUT it is also a uterus-stimulant and therefore should be avoided while pregnant or if trying to get pregnant.
Generally, liquid supplements will do you more good than solids. (Solids often contain a lot of "filler" and, like vitamins, you don't absorb most of the actual nutrients. And don't let supplements be a subsititute for healthy eating. Taking ten different supplements won't do you much good if you are a couch potato that eats at McDonald's every day.
People should be cautious when using herbs, and when taking herbs try to get organic supplements to make sure that you know exactly what you're putting into your body. ALWAYS let your Dr. know what you're taking herbally, and do your research.
I didn't really agree with what the TIME article had to say, but that's just my opinion. I not only believe but know that herbs work, I see them work for me, my family and my clients!
Because herbs work synergistically, combinations of herbs with similar properties enhance the properties of each. This is why choosing a product containing a combination of different herbs is usually more effective than choosing individual selections.
For example,a formulation with the combination of valerian, passion flower and hops helps to promote relaxation and restful sleep. All three have a relaxing effect on the body. Valerian relaxes muscle tension, while hops relaxes the nervous system, and passiflora acts as a sedative.