Herbal Medicines
Aherbal medicine is as it sounds; a medicine made from plants, which often contain active ingredients. There is a common misconception that because a herbal medicine is natural, it is safe and won’t interact with other medicine.
This is incorrect; if a herbal medicine is ef fective it’s often that it contains an ingredient that works, can have side ef fects and interactions and can potentially be harmful. Many conventional medicines have origins from herbs; even aspirin came from a plant!
Look for a THR (traditional herbal registration) mark on the label to ensure it meets manufacturing standards. Herbal medicines are used to treat conditions from skin conditions to mental health problems and menopausal symptoms.
I have had many cases of parents being concerned about using steroids for their child’s skin but have been giving herbal medicines which contain far higher doses of steroids.
Please tell your doctor if you are taking any herbal medications; for example St John’s wor t, often used to treat depression, can affect the liver and interact with other medicines. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding please discuss with a doctor before taking any herbal medication – or if you are about to have surger y as they could inter fere with blood clotting or with medications used in surgery.