Herbal Remedy

In recent years the issue of Alternative Healing has skyrocketed to the forefront of the medical field.  A 2004 government survey concluded that more than one third of adults use alternative medicine and healing.  A growing number of Americans are using herbal products for preventive and therapeutic purposes. The manufacturers of these products are not required to submit proof of safety and efficacy to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before marketing. For this reason, the adverse effects and drug interactions associated with herbal remedies are largely unknown.

One facet of this burgeoning interest is Herbal Medicine.  While it may seem “trendy” to some, Herbal Medicine has been around for thousands of years.   In fact, many of the familiar pharmaceutical medications we use today were originally created from “natural” ingredients.  Drugs like opium (from poppies), aspirin (from willow bark), digitalis (from foxglove) and quinine (from the cinchona tree.)

Interestingly, the synthetic version of  “aspirin” is credited with the beginning of the pharmaceutical industry.  A chemist working for the Friedrich Bayer Company in Germany created the synthetic.  The company registered the term “aspirin” as a trademark but Bayer lost the patent rights when the Allies seized and resold its foreign assets after World War I.

The right to use the term “aspirin” in the United States was purchased by Sterling Drug in 1918.  But even before the patent expired in 1917, Bayer had been unable to prevent their formula from being copied.  Hence, the term “aspirin” has been a generic term in the U.S. ever since. 

Please remember that there is no substitute for advice from a medical practitioner.  The contents provided here should not replace a health and fitness program and is provided for educational purposes only.  You should consult your own medical practitioner before embarking on any program that affects your health and well being.

Herbal supplements are not classified as drugs but as dietary supplements. The main difference is that they do not have approved therapeutic claims unlike in the case of drugs. Moreover, dietary supplements could either contain vitamins, minerals, herbals, or amino acids, all aimed to add to or supplement the diet of an individual. They are not intended to be taken alone as a substitute to any food or medicine.

No matter how the product pamphlet or the label of the bottle sounds about how it has been found to be helpful in certain health conditions, these herbal supplements are not therapeutic. So do not substitute these for the medications prescribed by your doctor for the treatment of certain diseases, or for the maintenance of blood pressure, lowering of blood sugar and cholesterol, and fight off infections.

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These are our personal opinion. Please read the disclaimer on the website.