Despite some recent bad press, there are quite a few safe and effective herbs that you can recommend to patients.

If you've been keeping up with the medical literature in the last few years, you may have noticed the barrage of reports on the toxic effects of herbs. Almost every other month, a new case study suggests that some medicinal plant poses a health threat of one sort or another.

Reading these accounts can easily give the impression that herbal remedies invariably do more harm, than good. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a wide range of valuable, relatively safe, medicinal plants.

Locating a reliable source of information

While the FDA is one of the most reliable authorities on prescription drugs, Germany's Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices is probably the best source of information on medicinal herbs. Ever since 1978, the Institute's Commission E has been studying the world literature on the subject and has issued over 300 monographs on the benefits and risks of different herbs.›1! The monographs are based on data derived from clinical trials, case reports, and the expert opinions of medical associations.

Unfortunately, there haven't been enough large-scale, double-blind trials to prove conclusively that herbal therapy works. And that's one reason why the FDA has yet to approve herbs as therapeutic drugs.

Such trials are extremely expensive and very few manufacturers are willing; to pick up the cost unless they can be assured of a return on their investment. In the United States, the only feasible way to recoup these research costs is to obtain a patent on the tested product, which would then give the company exclusive rights to sell it. The catch, however, is that you can't get a patent on herbs because they're natural products.

Despite these limitations, there is still a great deal of valuable research data on which to base some recommendations.

Which herbs seem to work?

There are hundreds of herbs that are recognized in both folklore and scientific medicine. Here are a few that have received the most press and that patients are likely to ask about. Some of the adverse effects of these and other herbs are discussed in the article that begins on page 53.

Chamomile. Grandmothers have been recommending a soothing tea made from this herb for centuries, and for good reason. The available research indicates that its anti inflammatory and antispasmodic properties make it valuable in relieving GI ailments, including peptic ulcers.›2! That doesn't mean, though, that chamomile should replace other medical treatments for the disease.

Echinacea. Because it stimulates the immune system, echinacea may prove helpful in the treatment of colds and influenza. In fact, one double-blind trial has revealed that 450 mg of echinacea root extract reduced both the duration and severity of flu symptoms.›1! The herb is contraindicated in patients with HIV infection, however, because it appears to stimulate the production of infected T cells, and that may indirectly encourage spread of the disease.›3!

Ginkgo biloba. Investigators have shown that this herb may benefit patients with vascular disease. At least eight controlled studies have shown, for instance, that ginkgo can help relieve the symptoms of cerebral insufficiency, which include poor concentration, impaired memory, confusion, tiredness, dizziness, depression, and headaches.›4! Most of these trials found that the best dose was 120 mg a day of the standardized herbal extract, given for at least four weeks.

Saw palmetto. There's no paucity of solid research data on this plant. Double-blind trials involving more than 2,000 patients have shown that it can relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy. Most of the research does not, however, show that it actually reduces the size of the gland.›1! The experts recommend 160 mg of a standardized extract twice a day.

St. John's Wort. Also called hypericum, this herb has been shown to be an effective antidepressant. So effective, in fact, that it generated almost three million prescriptions in Germany in one year alone.›5!

In terms of research data, St. John's Wort is another exception to the rule, with 23 randomized trials and thousands of patients testifying to its therapeutic effects for mild to moderately severe depression.›5! Not only is it superior to placebo, it has even held its own against commonly used antidepressant drugs like imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil) and amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep).

While all these research reports confirm the value of herbs, bear in mind at least two caveats. The FDA does not regulate herb production the way it does the manufacture of prescription or even OTC drugs. That makes it much harder to find properly labeled products that contain the dosage claimed on the label. Nonprofit organizations like the American Botanical Council are trying to deal with this situation by analyzing some of the commercially available formulas. Until clear-cut guidelines are available, instruct patients to look for the word "standardized" on the label.

Patients also need to put herbal therapy in proper perspective. Too many Americans have a magical notion about herbs. They assume they're nature's cures for disease. The fact is, however, that most medicinal herbs are not curative but palliative. They contain small doses of naturally occurring medicinal compounds that can relieve symptoms but rarely correct the underlying pathological process responsible for the disease.

As long as your patient keeps both these precautions in mind, he'll likely benefit from nature's drug store.

This Article has been submitted by the Jeremy's Prophecy Dot Com team for informational and educational purposes. Jeremy's Prophecy Dot Com is a website dedicated to telling the story of Jeremy Jacobs, a character in the novel, Jeremy's Prophecy Dot Com.