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Herbal medicinePublished by Bupa's health information team, August 2007. This factsheet is for people who would like more information about herbal medicine. Herbal medicine is a complementary therapy that uses plants or plant extracts to treat illness. There are numerous herbal products available that claim to treat the symptoms of a wide range of problems, from depression to colds and flu.
What is complementary medicine?In the UK, complementary medicines are generally viewed as treatments which are given alongside conventional treatments. Some levels of Bupa health insurance cover complementary medicine. Some therapies may be available through the NHS. What is herbal medicine?Many well established medicines originally come from plants. For example, the painkiller morphine comes from poppies, aspirin comes from the bark of willow trees and digoxin (a drug used to treat heart failure) comes from foxgloves. Traditional herbal medicine has been used in the UK for centuries and it remains popular today, despite scientific advances leading to more medicines and other conventional medical treatments becoming available. Although it's classed as a complementary medicine in the UK, it's actually the most widely practised form of medicine across the world - 80 percent of the world's population are dependent on herbs for their health. Some herbal treatments are well established, and have undergone clinical testing. This approach is best called phytotherapy and uses one remedy for one condition based on proper scientific testing. Traditional herbal medicine makes a diagnosis based on factors that are no longer used by conventional medicine. You will be prescribed a herbal mixture that is individual to you and based on your characteristics. Therefore, 10 different people with depression, for example, would each receive a different mixture (typically made up of six to 10 different herbs). There are a number of other therapies that use plants as remedies. As well as Western herbal medicine, you may also have heard of:
How do herbal medicines work?Many conventional medicines originate from a single active ingredient of a plant. Scientists can isolate this and produce it on a large scale in a laboratory. This is the opposite of herbal medicines which may contain dozens of different ingredients. Herbalists believe that all the elements are in balance within a plant and so it's important to keep them together. The different components are made more or less powerful depending on the others that are present. What problems do herbal medicines help?A few of the conditions that phytotherapy can be used to treat are listed below.
What are the alternatives?There are a range of conventional treatments for the health conditions listed. Ask your GP for advice. Where can I find a herbal practitioner?You can treat yourself with herbal remedies. There is a huge range available as tablets, capsules, ointments and creams. You can buy these in health food shops, pharmacies and even supermarkets. For more serious health problems, you may want to see a trained herbalist. There is currently no state registration of medical herbalists, but those who are members of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists will have trained for at least three years, are insured and follow the institute's code of conduct. Some herbal medicine practitioners work alongside doctors, and some GPs will refer you for a herbal medicine consultation. What will happen during a treatment session?Your first consultation with a herbalist will probably last at least an hour. You will be asked questions about your current state of health and whether you are taking any medication. You will also be asked about your medical and family history, your lifestyle (including diet) and your emotional state. You may have a physical examination as well. Your herbalist is likely to suggest changes to your lifestyle and diet as well as herbal medicines. You may be prescribed a remedy that is made up of several different herbs as the herbalist will adapt it to fit your individual needs. There are many forms that your medicine may come in, such as syrups, capsules, creams or tinctures. It's also possible for remedies to be taken as infusions (teas) and juices. You may have a follow-up appointment after about two weeks, and once a month after that to monitor progress. However, this will depend on your individual circumstances. Are herbal medicines effective?There are herbal medicines available that claim to treat almost any common complaint, but there is often limited scientific evidence that these really work. Phytotherapy is based on evidence from clinical trials, but traditional herbalism isn't. There has been little research on traditional herbalism and none of the evidence proves its effectiveness. Deciding on treatmentLike any medicine, herbal remedies can have side-effects. These are the unwanted, but mostly temporary, effects of a successful treatment. Herbal remedies may also interact with other medicines. It's possible that you may have an adverse reaction to a herbal medicine - there is a system called the Yellow Card Scheme for reporting and recording these to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). You can do this yourself or your GP can do it for you. If you are taking any medication, you should speak to your GP or pharmacist before taking any herbal remedies. You should not stop taking any prescribed medication without speaking to your GP first. You may have heard reports of fatal toxic effects with some herbal remedies, although this is rare with products that originate in the UK. However, in 2003, the MHRA introduced a ban on using the substance kava kava in herbal remedies and the Food Standards Agency banned its use in food products. Kava kava comes from a member of the pepper family and is used in some countries to treat conditions such as anxiety and tension. Its use was banned after a significant number of people who were taking kava kava developed severe liver poisoning and some died as a result. In 2005, the agencies carried out a review of the evidence on the safety of kava kava and decided that the ban should continue. There is no statutory regulation of herbal medicines at present, so you can't be sure that a herbal medicine definitely works, what it contains or whether it was produced properly. However, the UK government is in the process of introducing a system to regulate both herbal medicines and medical herbalists. Ask your GP or pharmacist for more information and advice about herbal remedies. Although some herbal medicines, such as the ones listed earlier, may be helpful for certain problems, this doesn't mean they are safe in all situations or suitable for you as an individual. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you shouldn't use any herbal medicines as their safety hasn't been established and they could harm both you and your unborn baby. If you have certain medical conditions you should not take herbal medicines without supervision from a trained herbalist or a doctor. You should consult your GP or pharmacist before taking herbal remedies if you have:
There is a risk that if you take herbal medicines without consulting your GP, you may delay treating a serious disease which has proven treatments. Herbal remedies have been widely used for many years and may be useful for self-treating minor illnesses. However, natural does not mean harmless and you should take care not to exceed the recommended doses. Further information
Related topicsSources
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional. Publication date: August 2007
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