Are Herbs Safer Than Drugs?

According to ExperimentalMedicine.org, “approximately 25 percent of Americans who consult their physician about a serious health problem are employing unconventional therapy, but only 70 percent of these patients inform their physician of such use.”

Since herbal products are not regulated for their purity & potency, like conventional drugs, there can be severe adverse effectss & drug interactions. They can even be different from one batch to another. David Kroll, Ph.D., a pharmacologist & consultant to the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine (DCIM) says, “The single greatest resource for people who want credible herbal information is a health care practitioner who is uniquely trained in both conventional & alternative medicine. Those people are rare, but the DCIM has been established to train physicians accordingly & to offer a place for patients to turn today for this type of information & medical care.”

Your own research should never replace a physician’s advice, but here are some helpful web sites to learn more before downing your vitamins.

* Consumer Lab – find out tons of information on your vitamins & more. This lab tells you where to buy products, what to watch for & what to stop taking if it’s recalled.
* Diet-&-Health – Have gout, insomnia, or acne? This site tells you what you may be defincint in & what to consider taking.
* http://www.experimentalmedicine.org
* Guide to Nutritional & Herbal Remedies
* An FDA Guide to Dietary Supplements
* Quack Watch – though some people may find this controversial, the owner brings up a lot of points worth considering during your research.
* Mayo Health – Look up herb, vitamin & other supplement information

As with any health information you receive, check with your doctor before taking anything. No information provided by Rest Ministries is meant to be health advice.