Originating from China and Korea, ginseng, a known herb, has been used medically for many centuries. The Asian herb is referred as Panax ginseng.1 Research found that Panax ginseng contains about twenty-eight different types of ginsenosides.1 Each ginsenoside produces varying effects on body systems, such as the central nervous system and the cardiovascular system.2 For example, one ginsenoside suppresses the central nervous system while another ginsenoside causes a stimulatory effect.2 The marketing uses of Panax ginseng entail enhancing general health and well-being as well as increasing mental and physical abilities1. Also, it has been said to improve mood and stimulate energy in a fatigued individual.1 While the statements are persuasive, only evidence proves the validity of ginseng’s marketed usages. Even though ginseng is noted for improving well-being and fatigue, there is no concrete evidence that supports the drug’s marketed effects.
Since ginseng has been used to increase one’s well-being, evidence is required to prove whether such advertisements are accurate to the herb’s effects on the body. Pharmacists Coleman, Hebert, and Reddy (2003) reflected on results from a survey of herbal users. 31% of the herbal users took ginseng.1 A little over half of the ginseng users (54%) took ginseng to improve their general health and well-being.1 About 18% of the ginseng users wanted to improve their mood.1 Thus, the majority of ginseng users (72%) took the herb to enhance their well-being and fatigue. The pharmacists wanted to test ginseng to determine if the herb actually enhances the users’ well-being.1 Their study randomly selected nine clinical trials from a MEDLINE search, including a variety of patient populatio...
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...cal therapist knows about ginseng. Concerns about ginseng, such as interactions with other drugs, medications, herbs, and supplements, need to be raised with the patient by the therapist. Ultimately, I would not recommend ginseng to a patient.
References
1. Coleman CI, Hebert JH, Reddy P. The effects of Panax ginseng on quality of life. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2003; 28: 5-15.
2. Klepser TB, Klepser ME. Unsafe and potentially safe herbal therapies. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 1999; 56: 125-38.
3. Cardinal BJ, Engels HJ. Ginseng does not enhance psychological well-being in healthy, young adults: Results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001; 101: 655-60.
4. Ginseng, Panax. MedlinePlus Web site. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/1000.html. Published August 11, 2011. Accessed February 5, 2012.
Mathews, Holly F. "Introduction: A Regional Approach and Multidisciplinary Persepctive." Herbal and Magical Medicine: Traditional Healing Today. Ed. James Kirkland, Holly F. Mathews, C. W. Sullivan, III, and Karen Baldwin. Durham: Duke UP, 1992. 1-13. Print.
Historically, valerian has been a non-scientific resource for relief from anxiety and insomnia.1 Detrimental effects of FDA approved medications for these symptoms have many professionals questioning whether the most effective and safe resource is available through a supplemental approach. This has led to the investigation of the true effectiveness of the valerian root and its impact on its subjects.
In our culture we seem to have the idea that if we pop the right pill, our dissatisfaction or discomfort will be assuaged. Lately, herbal drugs have become very popular as alternative medicines. They are purported to heal everything from memory problems to sexual dysfunction. One of the most common and most controversial herbal remedies is St. John’s Wort. As a cheap over-the-counter antidepressant, and with over 17% of the population experiencing depression sometime in their lifetime, its allure to the lay person is not surprising (Kessler, R. C. et al., 1994). Is St. John’s Wort an effective treatment for depression as many claim it is? Is it really safe?
This natural "mood-enhancer", also known as hypericum, is now being displayed all over television, the radio, and the Internet. It can be found everywhere: in the local health food store, grocery stores, across the Internet, and in some countries, the doctor's office(1) (2). But what is it? Is it really safe? How much is actually known about the effects of this "wonder cure"? The answers to these questions are not as easily answered as one might think. Although the Internet is a strong source of information it is very cluttered with advertisement sites for this drug providing little or no information besides its benefits and praises (3). Also, this drug has not yet been approved by the FDA in the United States and therefore is not prescribed. Following FDA approval, more will be known about the drug and its effects.
Dietary supplements are very beneficial to one’s body if they are taken correctly. There are many pros and cons to taking dietary supplements. In this paper I will discuss the pros and cons and how supplements affect the human body. We will also consider the government’s guidelines regarding dietary supplements.
The major use for herbal medicines is for the promotion of health and for therapy for chronic conditions, instead of being used for life-threatening conditions; except in the event of say advanced cancer or new infectious diseases when conventional medicine practices no longer are working an individual may use traditional remedies. While traditional medicines are often mistaken that because they are natural that they are safe, non-toxic, which is not always the case. In cases when an individual is taking herbs with prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, or other herbs that may cause some adverse side affects. As a flourishing commercial enterprise, it doesn’t matter why an individual uses traditional medicines, it provides important health care services for individuals that have access physically or finantually to allopathic
Henderson, L., Yue, Q. Y., Bergquist, C., Gerden, B., & Arlett, P. (2002). St John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): drug interactions and clinical outcomes. British journal of clinical pharmacology. 2002; 54(4):349-356.
St. John’s Wort is becoming increasingly popular mostly due to the lack of side effects. Other prescription antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil often produce effects like weight loss, sexual dysfunction, and insomnia. In a controlled study of St. John’s Wort, only 2.
On Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Overview and Alternative Therapy. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 18(4), 20-36. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.uproxy.library.dc-uoit.ca/docview/1114602433
Herbal remedies have been used throughout the world for thousands of years and recently their use has become popularized in America. People tend to view herbal remedies as being safer then prescription drugs because they are believed not to contain chemicals or cause side effects. St. John’s Wort is an herbal remedy, which prevents the destruction of seratonin, a natural anti-depressant, is often used to treat depression. Due to the increasing interest it St John’s wort, as well as in other herbal remedies, there has been a great deal of research done recently in the effectiveness and safety of this herb in regards to depression.
Alternative therapies/medicine are greatly used around the world until today’s day. Chamomile has been widely used for thousands of years by children and adults for multiple health conditions. Today, chamomile is used for sleepiness, anxiety, stomach upset, and may also be used topically for mouth ulcers that may occur from cancer treatment. Other beneficial properties of chamomile include: anti-inflammatory properties, stress reliever, painkiller, and an anti-septic. This paper will explore the beneficial uses of Chamomile as a form of alternative medicine, the properties of chamomile, as well as the precautions, risks and monitoring parameters associated with using Chamomile.
Suzuki, Y., Miyoshi, N., & Isemura, M. (2012). Health-promoting effects of green tea. Proceedings of the Japan Academy, 88(3), 88-101.
Herbal remedies’ qualities are widespread availability, lower cost, effective for chronic conditions. Herbal remedies are the use of plants or plant extract to treat a person’ overall health. Herbal treatments are prominent for developing countries for instance, “in Africa up to 90% and in India 70% of the population depend on traditional medicine to help meet their health care needs” (Wachtel-Galor & Benzie, 2011), due to their low cost and availability. Herbal remedies have gained attention in the past decades, and expanding their uses due to the increased interest of natural therapies (Wachtel-Galor & Benzie, 2011). Herbs used on the remedies grow in the wild throughout the world, therefore making it easy to
Health claims are booming in today’s world. Many of these consumers are being misled by advertising and believe that their choice will benefit their health. Although herbal medicines have been in existence throughout human evolution, I have chosen to take a deeper look into these health practices. I’m curious if this is just another health claim or if there are actual benefits to taking these medicines.
Frequently a person believes that herbal medicine is more naturally safe and soothing than drugs. Nevertheless, there’s no reasonable defense about this. Though many consumers trusted herbal medicine much more than the synthetic medicine because it’s safe and effective, but like anything else, it has its own limitations too. There are several hostile issues related to herbal medicine that has been quite alarming. Notwithstanding, majority of the most popular herbs are at least nearly safe.