The following comments are the opinions of Michael Castleman, the author of
several herbal books; The Healing Herbs, The Green Pharmacy and his latest
book; There's Still a person in There, a guide for Alzheimer's Patient. And
comments also taken from The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines, by Charles
W. Fetrow, Pharm. D. and Juan R. Avila, Pharm.D. :
The presence and use of herbs has withstood the test of time.
Furthermore, according to recent surveys by various mainstream medical
authorities, herbs have been proven to be much safer to use than
pharmaceuticals.
Each year the American Associations of Poison Control Centers in
Washington, D.C., compiles figures on accidental poisonings around the
country. For one recent year, pain relievers, cough and cold preparations,
antibiotics, sedatives, and antidepressants accounted for more than 480,000
poisonings (both intentional suicide attempts and accidental overdoses).
Medicinal herbs accounted for only a few dozen, overwhelmingly, these were
reactions to Chinese ephedra (ma huang) taken as an amphetamine-like
intoxicant.
In a report by the Journal of the American Medical Association,
researchers at the University of Toronto combed 30 years of medical
literature (1966-96) for reports of drug side effects among hospital
patients. Extrapolating from 39 of the most scientifically rigorous
studies, the researchers estimated that drug side effects account for an
astonishing 106,000 U.S. hospital deaths a year and cause 2.2 million
serious nonfatal medical problems leading cause of death and kill more
people than AIDS, suicide, and homicide combined. Surprisingly, these side
effects did not result from any medical error but, rather, occurred when
drugs were administered in accordance with FDA dosage guidelines (Lazarou,
J., et al., Journal of the American Medical Association (1998), 279; 1200)
Given the statistics, it is clear the pharmaceuticals are more
hazardous than herbs and that toxic reactions to herbs are not a major
public health problem. One unfortunate result of mainstream medicine's long
standing prejudice against herbs has been an equally uninformed backlash by
some herb advocates who have claimed that herbs cannot possibly cause harm.
This line of thinking is incorrect, since some of the most potent poisons
are botanical.
As briefly discussed above, ma huang can be hazardous when misused as
an intoxicant. Further, in the 1980's, researchers discovered that comfrey
and coltsfoot contain potentially liver-damaging pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
Responsible herbalists no longer recommend their ingestion, but recommend it
for healing of tissues, muscles and bones. Socrates was put to death with a
cup of poison hemlock, an herb their resembles parsley. Never eat wild
parsley. Another potent herbal poison is the Amanita ('death cap"😉
mushroom. Never pick wild mushrooms unless you're certain you can identify
them correctly.
Like drugs, any plant with the potential for healing when used
appropriately also has the potential for harm when used irresponsibly. The
most popular medicinal herbs are reasonably safe for most people, most of
the time, and when taken in their recommended amounts. However, medicinal
herbs contain pharmacologically active compounds that have drug effects on
the body. And all drugs have the potential to cause allergic reactions,
side effects, fetal harm, and interactions with other herbs and drugs.
Overall, herbs are safer than pharmaceuticals, but they can still cause
harm, and anyone who uses them should do so cautiously, responsibly and be
well informed on the herb they choose.
Until quite recently, mainstream medicine promulgated a double standard
concerning dissemination of information about medicinal herbs.
Specifically, mainstream medical journals have been notoriously quick to
publish reports on the hazards and side effects of herbs, sometimes using
studies of questionable scientific merit. On the other hand, the very same
journals have been slow to publish reports of herbal benefits, sometimes
ignoring studies that are scientifically rigorous.
Fortunately, in the last few years, mainstream medical journals have
adopted a more objective view. The journals include not only more reports
of herbal benefits, but also well documented, less lurid reports of their
side effects.
Despite the changing perspective in medical journals, doctors and the
public still generally believe that pharmaceuticals are more trustworthy
than herbs simply because pharmaceuticals are more tightly regulated by the
Food and Drug Administration.
In the United States, many traditional health care providers lack
knowledge about herbal remedies, and their patients may be reluctant to
reveal their use of such remedies. But renewed interest in all forms of
alternative medicine has led consumers, health care providers, and drug
researchers to reexamine herbal remedies.
Unfortunately, herbs don't have magical or mystical properties. Like
all drugs, they must be taken in the right doses for the right length of
time an for the right purpose to produce a benefit.
Today, herbal remedies remain largely unregulated. The FDA regulates
herbal products only as dietary supplements, not drugs. Manufacturers can't
claim a particular product cures or prevents a specific disease, they can
make any other claim about the supposed benefits without providing
supporting evidence. They need only add the following disclaimer: "This
statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."
In essence, herbal remedies in the United States are sold on a
buyer-beware basis. This highlights the importance of learning everything
you can about any herbal products you plan to use. Make sure the company
brand name you choose is reputable and has good quality control processes.
Beware of cheap, over-the-counter brands of herbs and vitamins, flashy T.V.
advertisements, etc..