When people choose to use herbal remedies for an ailment , they should prescribe to some type of guidelines rather than just taking it and hoping for the best. Do your research, see if it is something which you feel could benefit you, are the possible side affects something you can live with, does it interfere with any other medication you may be taking and so on. I found this good article on using herbs wisely at gardenmedicinals.com.Herbal traditions
For thousands of years, herbs have been used as potent medicines. In spite of the fact that modern pharmaceuticals have supplanted some of the traditional uses of herbs, 80% of the world population continues to use herbs as their primary means of medical treatment. This is not to diminish the importance of pharmaceuticals (the majority of which are plant based) but merely to put herbal medicine into a global context. Plants are sophisticated chemical factories and herbs are full of pharmacological agents. For thousands of years traditional herbalists, healers, root doctors, shamans, and medicine men and women have passed on a rich tradition of medical knowledge. When herbs are used therapeutically within the context of a cultural healing tradition, they are used safely. But when the use of herbs becomes separated from their cultural and historical context they can be misused. For that reason, this page is dedicated to reviewing some of the principles for the wise use of herbs.
First do no harm
One of the main reasons for using herbs therapeutically is based on consideration of the Hippocratic oath of Primum non nocere ("First do no harm"). No treatment should be administered which causes harm. In general, herbal medicines offer a wider range of safety than do pharmaceuticals, and they do less harm. There is a big difference between the therapeutic possibilities of extracts of whole plants versus the therapeutic possibilities of pharmaceuticals. This situation presents a healthy challenge to modern allopathic medicine, and should serve to stimulate more research on the healing properties of herbs. Regardless of what type of healing tradition is used, it is better to give no medication at all than to use medication indiscriminately.For best results, all healing methodologies need to be integrated within a holistic context which includes a nutritional diet, adequate rest, regular exercise, a positive outlook on life, fulfilling work, and a non-stressful lifestyle. Often paying attention to these basics is sufficient to bring about healing without having to resort to other methods.
Self-diagnosis
There is an old saying that “he who doctors himself has a fool for a physician”. For this reason, physicians go to other physicians for diagnosis and treatment. Though this saying may be overstated in the case of diagnosis of minor conditions, there is validity in this old adage. Diagnosis is a science and an art, and even if you are a skilled diagnostician, it is not possible to be completely objective when diagnosing one’s self. For this reason, if you attempt self-diagnosis discuss your ideas with a qualified health professional before you proceed with treatment.
Side effects and allergic conditions
All medicinal herbs (and even foods) have side effects to some degree. The side effects depend on dosage, individual physiology, age, sex, temperament, illness, or pregnancy. Each person has their own unique physiological and biochemical constitution. It is possible for anyone to respond in atypical fashion in response to treatment. One advantage of using herbs for treatment is that there tends to be fewer idiopathic and idiosyncratic responses compared to treatment with pharmaceuticals. Properly used, herbs should be free of side effects within the window of healing, and the person’s constitution should be supported by the action of the herbs.
When taking herbal supplements, keep good records, listen to your body, and if you experience any unusual or unpleasant reaction, stop taking the herb. The first time you take an herb, use only a small amount so that you can be sure that there is no immediate adverse reaction. When using certain types of herbs for an extended period of time, it may be advisable to periodically discontinue use of the herb for a few weeks. This is to allow you to determine whether you still need the herb, or perhaps to keep the herb from becoming ineffective.
Herb/drug interactions
Most people are aware that drugs may interact with each other, or with certain foods in the diet. Such interactions may cause the drug to be ineffective or could produce an adverse side effect. The same principle applies to herbs. For example, the herb St. Johnswort is often used as an anti-depressant. One of its actions is to inhibit the enzyme monamine oxidase (MAO). If a person is also taking a drug that affects MAO, there is the potential for an adverse reaction. Other herbs that affect MAO levels are licorice and passionflower. There are numerous other examples. If you are taking prescription drugs, you should consult with a knowledgeable pharmacist or herbalist before using herbs for medication.
Timing, frequency, and duration of doses
In standard drug treatment, one is usually taking a single chemical compound which has a certain half-life in the body. The half-life is the time period it takes for half of the drug to be eliminated from the body. In herb treatment, one is using extracts of plants that contain hundreds or thousands of ingredients, many of which are pharmacologically active with different half-lives. The therapeutic effects of herbs are often multifaceted. In the words of herbalist David Hoffmann, "the nutritional matrix of plant biochemistry profoundly modifies the activities of specific chemicals." Some of the ingredients of an herbal preparation may have specific targeting effects on biochemical processes. Other chemicals may enhance or potentiate the actions of other herbal components, while still other chemicals may have synergistic and nutritive effects. Always pay attention to the recommended dosage. Do not subscribe to the "more is better" viewpoint. Higher than recommended doses could produce adverse or paradoxical effects. Because of their nutritive and supporting nature, many herbs may take a few days to a few weeks for the desired effect to be achieved. When tonifying herbs are used for chronic conditions, it is better to take them in small doses over an extended period of time. As a general rule, dosage should be related to body weight. Large people require larger doses than small people.
Dosage for children
There are no absolute guidelines for administering herbal medicines for children, but there are some recommendations and rules. Note that some herbs such as comfrey root, poke, may-apple, and Ma Huang, should not be used with young children. There are at least three different methods for determining children’s dosage.
Clark’s Rule: Divide the child’s weight (in pounds) by 150. This gives the approximate fraction of the adult dose. For example for a 50 lb. child, the suggested dose is 1/3 of the adult dose.
Cowling’s Rule: Divide the child’s age (in years) at the next birthday by 24. For example, a seven year child will be eight on his or her next birthday. To calculate the dose, divide 8 by 24 which equals 8/24, or 1/3 the adult dose.
Young’s Rule: Divide the child’s age (in years) by a factor of 12 plus the age. For example, for a child of 9 years, divide 9 by (12 + 6) which equals 9/18 or 1/2 the adult dose.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
There are quite a few herbs that are contraindicated during pregnancy. According to herbalist Deb Soule, the following herbs should not be taken during pregnancy. These include barberry root, cascara sagrada, feverfew, juniper berry, mugwort, pennyroyal, poke, rue, senna, southernwood, tansy, thuja, and wormwood. Dr. James Duke would add balsam pear, chervil, Chinese angelica, hernandia, hyptis, may-apple, and mountain mint. The absence of other herbs on this list does not imply that they are safe to use during pregnancy. Some of the above herbs should also not be used while breast-feeding. Again, check with a qualified health professional before using herbs during pregnancy or breast-feeding.
