“You see Chioma, I grew up knowing the potency of herbs and leaves”
“My grand-father, before he died of liver failure knows different combinations for all types of disease condition”
You see these oyinbo something; they are not as potent as our traditional medicine. So next time, do not preach to me that I should stop taking herbal medicine.
“Chinedu! Chinedu!! Don’t get me wrong, I never said that herbal medicine is bad and that you should stop taking it”. Let me go over what I said previously.
Herbal medicine is the use of plants or plants extracts for medicinal purposes. They have been used by many different cultures throughout the world to treat illnesses and improve bodily functions.
Herbal medicine has been used to treat or alleviate virtually every possible medical condition. Some of the most popular herbal remedies and the conditions for which they are used includes:
- Minor burns, sunburns, skin irritation or inflammation
- Malaria, typhoid and fever
- Bruises, sprains, sore muscles and joints
- Diabetes, Ulcer, Cough, Fibroid, Hypertension
- Sexual Performance
So you see, herbal medicines are good and it works, but is it safe…?
It is important to consider the following when taking herbal medicines:
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- When taking herbal medication, you should investigate possible interactions with other medicines you may be considering. Be careful about mixing herbs and drugs that have similar actions. For example, it may not be a good idea to mix anticoagulant drugs with ginkgo, a natural blood thinner.
Also the herb valerian – a sedative, probably shouldn’t be mixed with prescription sleeping medicine. Similarly, avoid mixing herbs and drugs that have opposite actions. Other agents may alter the way a medication is handled by the body.
- Pregnancy: It is best to avoid taking any herbs during pregnancy, especially the first trimester, unless you’re under the care of a knowledgeable and licensed practitioner.
- Nursing: Asides herbs that can stimulate breast-milk production, women who are breastfeeding should avoid most medicinal herbs for the first four to six months of their baby’s life.
- Children: Herbal remedies that are safe for adults may not be safe for children.
Recommendation Herbal medicines, like every other medicine is a poison, what is to be discouraged is self-medication and its misuse.
Before you take any herbal medicine, make sure it is prescribed and recommended by a licensed medical professional.
References
