Indian society still believes in herbal medicine. This can be seen from the number of mobile herbalists or various herbal medicinal products on the market, such as ginseng, aloe vera, spirulina, propolis or ginkgo biloba.
The increasing use of herbal medicine in India is also related to the many types of plants in this country. Indian is listed as one of the countries that has abundant plant wealth. But are drugs made from natural ingredients definitely safe for consumption?
Herbal medicines are made from plants or mixtures of plant extracts to treat disease or maintain health. Herbal medicine can be made from leaves, flowers, stems, roots, fruit, and even seeds. Then these ingredients are processed and packaged in capsules, tablets, oils, ointments, or drinks in the form of tea. Please read more here indian installment.
Examples of plants that are often consumed as herbal medicine are mahogany seeds, rosella, brotowali, crown of gods, srikaya, areca nut, and lempuyang. Recently, the wood has also become popular because it is thought to be a cancer drug.
Because it is made from natural ingredients, people also think that herbal medicine is safe and do not hesitate to try it, especially if the herbal medicine has been used for generations.
The clinical trial process on a product includes checking the correct identity of the plants used, the parts of the plants used, how to prepare raw materials, and identification of active compounds. The extraction method used, the method of preparing the raw material and the product being tested are also needed.
Herbal medicines circulating in India must not contain medicinal chemicals (BKO) because they can endanger health and have fatal consequences. Examples of BKO in question are paracetamol as a pain reliever drug or sildenafil as a drug to treat impotence.
Several countries strictly prohibit people from consuming herbal medicines containing BKO content. The government will also confiscate herbal medicinal products containing these substances.
Clinical Effectiveness of Herbal Medicines
Herbal medicine has a very complex content and way of working. Although generally considered natural, this does not mean that herbal medicine is completely safe. Unlike medical drugs, herbal medicines have a different way of working in treating diseases. If conventional medicine aims to treat a specific disease, herbal medicine generally plays a greater role in the body’s recovery process.
Almost all plants have an effect or antioxidant content in them. The antioxidant activity in herbal medicines is what makes it used to help treat various conditions such as cancer, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Scientific facts from various studies so far have concluded that the clinical effectiveness of herbal medicine is still not supported by strong and consistent evidence. Some people claim to feel better after taking herbal medicines, but there are also reports of poisoning after taking herbal medicines. So if you want to use herbal medicine as a treatment method, you should consult your doctor first.
Tips for Safe Taking Herbal Medicines
Most of the natural ingredients that are used as herbal medicines are safe for consumption. Although safe, herbal medicines also have the potential to cause both minor and serious side effects on the body. Information about possible side effects is usually listed on the packaging. In order to avoid harm, here are tips on how to safely consume herbal medicines. Click here for more information about almayadeen.
- Make sure to buy a product that has been registered.
- Don’t forget to check the product expiration date.
- Follow all instructions for use along with the dosage listed on the packaging.
- Contact the product’s customer service if you want to know more clearly about their product.
- Before consuming it, make sure you consult your doctor first.
Herbal medicine cannot be consumed by everyone. People with certain conditions should be more careful or better avoid using herbal remedies.
- Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers
The period of pregnancy is a time when mothers must be careful in consuming anything, including herbal medicine. What is consumed by pregnant women can affect the condition of the fetus so that it can result in miscarriage, premature birth, or babies born with defects. This also applies to breastfeeding mothers. The intake that enters the body of a nursing mother can be contained in breast milk. The substances contained in herbal medicines may have an impact on the health of the baby.
- People who are going to have surgery
There are some herbal remedies that can slow blood clotting or thin the blood. This can be bad if the herbal medicine is consumed before undergoing surgery. One example is ginkgo biloba. Consumption of this herbal medicine must be stopped at least two weeks before surgery.
- Currently taking certain drugs
Herbal medicines can also cause serious side effects if taken together with medical drugs, such as blood pressure-lowering drugs, blood-thinning drugs, and diabetes medications. One of the herbal medicines that are recommended not to be taken together with these medicines is a supplement or roselle tea.
- Having certain diseases
Herbal remedies that were originally intended to provide good benefits, can actually worsen a person’s illness. For example, bitter herbal medicine. This drug is believed to be able to boost the immune system, but it can also be dangerous if taken by someone with autoimmune diseases. Then there are also herbal medicines made from gotu kola. Gotu kola and kenikir leaves should not be consumed by people who have liver disease. According to research, consuming gotu kola can increase the risk of liver damage.
So, don’t take any herbal medicine, especially if the goal is for treatment. You need to know what the purpose, benefits, and safety of these herbal medicines are. For more information about herbal medicine, you can consult a doctor.