Herbal medicine: Awful small secrets

Popularity of herbal medicine among city people is increasing. Sale of such medicines is especially very good outside big cities' in Bangladesh. Now the booming market has extended from rural shops to cities prestigious supermarkets. You can also see growing of herbal plants from Prime Minister's well-heeled garden to a remote herbal village in Rajshahi. Most of the consumers consider them as safe alternatives to conventional allopathic medicines. Certainly there are lot of good undisclosed benefits lying with herbal medicine. But for the confused consumer, the way of choosing these medicines is neither methodical nor easy. For the reason that some herbs carry risks whether due to their constituents or level of that -- consumers need to educate themselves about what they are dealing with. Most probably half of our population take some form of natural alternative medicines. But unfortunately at this moment in time, majority of local herbal suppliers or practitioners have no formal qualification on this subject. The producers also do not follow any standards like proper pharmaceutical industries. Dispensing of these herbal medicines is a matter of concern for country's health departments.

Some tips for taking herbal remedies
Consult doctors, knowledgeable herbal specialist or qualified pharmacist before using herbal medicines. It is better not to self medicate with herbal medicine.

Herbs are not simple substances. Their effectiveness depends on different factors -- like how they were cultivated, as well as which part of the growth cycle they were produced. And processing these herbs is equally vital. So try to buy them from shops with good reputation. Now and then it has been found that mould has grown on these substances; even sometimes you may see insects fly out from packets or storage containers.

Many herbal practitioners unintentionally provide inaccurate guidance regarding the appropriate herb and their dosage. Quantity or dosage of herbal medication is an important part of herbal management. Concerning their side effects, they need to be as educated as possible for giving proper prescription.

And do not forget to discuss with a doctor about allopathic medication you are on. There may be chances of cross reactions with traditional medicines. For example, we all know that garlic, ginger, are good for our health, but these may increase the effects of conventional blood-thinning agents if taken in high dose. So while you are having Aspirin regularly, consult an up to date doctor about your alternative medications.