Herbs have been used for their medicinal value for thousands of years in many civilizations all over the world to effectively combat illnesses and build the immune system. Herbal medicine supplements have recently gained more popularity due to the scientifically supported evidence of their effectiveness, their safer composition and their affordability for long term treatment. These medicine herbal supplements stem from that branch of alternative medicine that is also referred to as botanical medicine or phytomedicine; this is due to the reason that these supplements contain active ingredients constituting the use of plant seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes.
Long practiced outside of conventional medicine, herbalism is gaining ground as an effective antidote to the stress and strain of daily living, common ailments and even entering the arena earlier reserved for conventional medicines like synthetic drugs in treating serious ailments like cancer, Parkinson's disease, Leukoderma, Alzheimer's among others. This rise in popularity for medicine herbal supplements is largely due to the recent analysis and constant scientific research being conducted on their effectiveness and safety factors that add to their value in the treatment and prevention of disease.
Herbal supplements are a vital part of this stream of alternate medicine that has its devoted stream of followers who have benefited from efficacy of treatment for many conditions such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome, to name a few. Athletes and those working long hours, especially work that requires extreme physical activity have greatly benefited from the natural cures offered by energy boosters using medicine herbal supplements to support daily diet and demanding pace of work.
Herbal medicine preparations are best taken under the guidance of a trained professional and persons venturing to try out any supplements for the first time are advised to consult their health practitioner before self-treating, as some herbal products are often mislabeled and may contain undeclared additives and adulterants. Furthermore, certain pure medicine herbal supplements may have extra potency for an individual's metabolic functioning and cause allergic reactions or interact with conventional drugs. For example, the popularly used St. John's Wort effectively used to treat anxiety is known to cause sensitivity to the sun's ultraviolet rays, and may cause an allergic reaction, stomach upset, fatigue and restlessness in some persons. In addition, St. John's wort must not be taken with anti-depressant medication.
Kava kava and Echinacea have both been linked to liver toxicity with the result that the former has been taken off the market in several countries due to the guidelines stated by the American FDA; similar is the case with Valerian medicine herbal supplement, which if not administered under supervision may cause over sedation, and in some people it may even have the unexpected effect of over stimulating instead of sedating.