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Show references Natural medicines in the clinical management of anxiety. Natural Medicines. Accessed Feb. Passion flower. German chamomile. Lemon balm.

FDA issues consumer advisory for dietary supplements containing kava. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.

Bystritsky A. Complementary and alternative treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders: Herbs and medications. Mixing medications and dietary supplements can endanger your health. Food and Drug Administration. Dietary supplements: What you need to know.

Using dietary supplements wisely. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Bauer BA expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. See also Anxiety disorders Cognitive behavioral therapy Anxiety and diet Depression and anxiety: Can I have both?

The different smells and chemical constituents of aromatherapy oils can produce different emotional and physiological reactions. Ayurveda is an ancient healing system from India that uses a range of techniques to treat illness and encourage wellbeing.

Bowen is a holistic remedial body technique that works on the soft connective tissue fascia of the body. Bowen therapy can be used to treat musculoskeletal or related neurological problems including acute sports injuries and chronic or organic conditions.

It is gentle and relaxing and does not use forceful manipulation. Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.

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Herbal medicine. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. What is herbal medicine? Active ingredients and herbal medicine Medicinal uses for specific herbs Do not self-diagnose ailments Special considerations for herbal medicine Where to get help.

Active ingredients and herbal medicine Herbal medicines contain active ingredients. Medicinal uses for specific herbs Herbal medicine aims to return the body to a state of natural balance so that it can heal itself.

Some herbs that are commonly used in herbal medicine, and their traditional uses, include: Echinacea — to stimulate the immune system and aid the body in fighting infection. Used to treat ailments such as boils , fever and herpes.

Dong quai dang gui — used for gynaecological complaints such as premenstrual tension , menopause symptoms and period pain. Some studies indicate that dong quai can lower blood pressure.

Garlic — used to reduce the risk of heart disease by lowering levels of blood fats and cholesterol a type of blood fat. The antibiotic and antiviral properties of garlic mean that it is also used to fight colds , sinusitis and other respiratory infections.

Ginger — many studies have shown ginger to be useful in treating nausea, including motion sickness and morning sickness. Ginkgo biloba — commonly used to treat poor blood circulation and tinnitus ringing in the ears. Ginseng — generally used to treat fatigue , for example during recovery from illness.

It is also used to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, however overuse of ginseng has been associated with raised blood pressure. It is also used for anxiety and insomnia.

The effects of herbs can range from mild to potent depending on the person taking them and the medications they are using. It is wise to thoroughly research the herbs you want to try and take your research to your oncologist.

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Free Mesothelioma Resources Access free resources to help you or a loved one after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Get Help Today. Who Am I Calling? Call Now Is Herbal Medicine Safe for Cancer Patients? Herbs may seem harmless, but sometimes they can interfere with cancer treatment. Is Herbal Medicine Effective in Cancer Care?

Research on herbs suggests they may help to: Boost the immune system Ease cancer symptoms Reduce treatment side effects Slow cancer spreading metastasis Attack cancer cells.

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Less common types include Tibetan or Ayurvedic medicine Indian and Unani Tibb. Western herbal medicine focuses on treating the whole person rather than their illness. So, the herbalist looks at your:. Western herbal therapists usually make medicines from European and North American herbs.

They also use some herbs from the Chinese and Indian traditions. Herbalists use remedies made from whole plants or plant parts.

They believe it helps your body to heal itself or to reduce the side effects of medical treatments. Chinese herbal medicine is part of a whole system of medicine. The system is called Traditional Chinese Medicine TCM.

TCM aims to restore the balance of your Qi pronounced chee. TCM practitioners believe that Qi is the flow of energy in your body and is essential for good health. Yin and yang refer to different qualities of Qi. When all of the yin and yang aspects of Qi are in harmony with one another, there is health, wellbeing and peace.

Illness is due to a disturbance of the balance between yin and yang. Chinese herbalists use plants according to how they affect a part of the body or energy channel.

TCM uses hundreds of medicinal substances from plants. Practitioners may use different parts of plants. They might use the leaves, roots, stems, flowers or seeds. Usually, they combine herbs and you take them as teas, capsules, tinctures, or powders.

Herbal medicine is one of the most used complementary and alternative therapies by people with cancer. People have used herbal medicine for centuries to treat many different health conditions. They believe it is a natural way to help you relax and cope with anxiety and depression or to help with other conditions such as:.

People might also use herbal medicine to help themselves to feel better or more in control of their situation. During your first visit, the herbalist will ask you general questions about your health, lifestyle and diet. They will take a medical history and find out about any medication or supplements you are taking.

They will also do a physical examination. This might include taking your pulse and blood pressure and examining your skin, nails, tongue and eyes. They might also feel your abdomen.

The herbalist will then decide which remedies you need. They will usually make it while you wait. Your herbalist may suggest that you go back for another appointment after a few weeks.

How long you continue seeing them will depend on why you are using herbal medicine. Some herbal medicines are safe to use but others may have severe and potentially dangerous side effects if used incorrectly. Some herbal medicines can interact with prescription drugs and other cancer treatments you are having.

Check with your cancer specialist before taking any herbal medicines. Some herbal treatments might affect the way your body processes cancer drugs. This means it could make the imatinib less effective at treating your cancer.

Some herbal medicines might increase the effect of cancer drugs. This means that you could have too much treatment. Other herbal medicines can interfere with some drugs. For example, Asian ginseng and bilberry can increase the risk of bleeding after surgery.

Some herbal remedies may make your skin more sensitive to light. Do not take them while having radiotherapy. Each type of herbal remedy might have side effects. Some are safe to use and do not have any noticeable side effects. But some plants are poisonous to humans and can have serious and severe side effects.

Always tell your doctor if you are using any type of herbal remedy. It might be helpful to ask your herbalist for a list of all the ingredients in your herbal remedy.

Then if you do have any side effects, your doctor will know what you have taken. You, your doctor or herbalist can report side effects. You can report it to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority MHRA.

The MHRA is the UK regulatory body. It collects information about the side effects of drugs, including herbal medicines. Let both your herbalist and doctor know immediately if you feel worse or ill while you are taking herbal medicine.

There is no reliable evidence from human studies that herbal remedies can treat, prevent or cure any type of cancer. Some clinical trials seem to show that certain Chinese herbs may help people to live longer, might reduce side effects, and help to prevent cancer from coming back.

This is especially when combined with conventional treatment. But many of the studies are published in Chinese, and some of them don't list the specific herbs used. Some journal articles don't give enough detail on how the researchers did the studies.

It is difficult to know how reliable the research is and which herbs may be helpful. But there are trials looking into this. Chinese researchers did a cohort study in A cohort is a group of people, so cohort studies look at groups of people.

The researchers follow the group over a period of time. The researchers in this study looked at people with oesophageal food pipe cancer. And who might develop a second primary new cancer of the head and neck.

The researchers followed the group over 10 years. One part of the group received Chinese Herbal Medicine CHM and the other part did not. The results showed that the group of people who took CHM had fewer cases of a second primary cancer of the head and neck. This was when the researchers compared them to the group that did not take CHM.

The researchers suggested that CHM might prevent a second primary cancer of the head and neck in people with oesophageal cancer. The results looked promising.

But the people in the study received different types of CHM. This might make the results of the study less accurate. There is evidence that some herbal remedies might prevent or relieve cancer symptoms.

And that it might help with treatment side effects. But we need results from large clinical trials. This way we can know which herbs are safe to use alongside conventional cancer treatment.

A Cochrane review of studies in looking at preventing a dry mouth in people having radiotherapy for head and neck cancer. They found that there was not enough evidence to say that Chinese Herbal Medicine CHM can prevent the feeling of dry mouth.

This was in people who had radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy to the head and neck. Another Cochrane review of studies in found that there was not enough evidence to use CHM as a treatment for oesophageal cancer. But they said that it might help with quality of life.

And that it might relieve some side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. A third Cochrane review of studies in looked at moxibustion. Moxibustion involves the burning of herbs above the skin at acupuncture pressure points. The researchers found little evidence to say that it helped with side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Or that it helped with quality of life in people with cancer. But the researchers felt that the evidence was not clear enough to rule out some benefits or risks of this treatment. They suggested better quality studies.

Another review in looked at whether acupuncture and moxibustion could help with cancer related fatigue tiredness. Some of the studies suggested that these types of Chinese medicine might help with fatigue. They say more research is needed with better quality studies. Chinese researchers did a review study in The researchers looked at studies that used different types of CHM.

The studies looked at how to relieve perimenopausal symptoms in women who had surgery, chemoradiotherapy or hormone treatment for breast cancer. Perimenopausal means the transition time to full menopause.

The researchers found that CHM might improve perimenopausal symptoms. But suggested better quality, precise and in-depth studies. Some laboratory tests have found certain plants or plant extracts have anti-cancer qualities.

Manufacturers made these into cancer drugs such as Taxol from the Pacific yew tree. But, there is no scientific evidence from human trials that herbal medicine can treat or cure cancer. We need large trials to prove this. Researchers did a laboratory study in They looked at the use of Chang-wei-qing CWQ as a treatment to prevent a certain type of bowel cancer.

Oat straw A. sativa included in Class 1 is also approved for its soothing and antipruritic qualities McGuffin et al. In the atopic group, the witch hazel was slightly superior in reducing inflammation and itching. Lemon balm Melissa officinalis is a lemon-scented member of the mint family.

An essential oil can be steam-distilled from the cut leaves. Topical uses include treatment of herpes simplex and minor wounds. In another trial where balm extract was placed on lesions within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms, the size of the lesions and healing time were found to be statistically better in the group treated with balm Brown and Dattner Tannin and polyphenols appear to be responsible for the antiviral effect of the balm Peirce, Fargis, and Scordato Balm is included in Class 1, and is very safe to use both topically and orally McGuffin et al.

Other herbal preparations that have reported in-vitro activity against herpes simplex include Echinacea spp. A small, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial found no statistically significant differences between Echinacea extract of mg twice per day for 6 months and placebo controls in treating recurrent genital herpes Basch et al.

The TCM herbal mixtures for treating herpes simplex are listed by Xu Capsaicin, the main ingredient in cayenne pepper Capiscum frutescens , Class 1 internally but Class 2d externally; McGuffin et al. It is applied four or five times a day and initially causes a burning sensation. With continued use, it depletes substance P in the regional peripheral nerves, reducing pain.

In China, herpes zoster is commonly treated topically with hibiscus Hibiscus sabdariffa; Fleming Hibiscus has been proved to be a very safe Class 1 herb, both topically and orally McGuffin et al. The TCM herbal mixtures for herpes zoster are listed by Xu Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia have been treated with a topical licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra, G.

uralensis Class 1 gel preparation Lininger Glycyrrhizen, one of the active components of licorice, has been demonstrated to inhibit the replication of varicella zoster in vitro Baba and Shigeta There are so far no clinical studies to support this. Topical use is reported to be very safe, but care should be taken when it is taken orally as it is included in both Classes 2b and 2d McGuffin et al.

By precipitating surface proteins, topical tannins can reduce the openings of sweat ducts and thus reduce sweating locally. Tannins also have antimicrobial properties that help to reduce odorous bacterial by-products van Wyk and Wink See Section Black tea also contains tannins. Camphor is derived from the camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora Classes 2b and 2d distillate of the wood McGuffin et al.

It is toxic in large doses. As an antipruritic, it can be added to lotions or creams at one-half percent. Menthol is derived from Japanese mint M. arvensis , which is included in Class 1 McGuffin et al.

It has a cooling, antipruritic, and antibacterial effect. As noted in Section Tars derived from birch Betula spp. trees van Wyk and Wink are antipruritic and antiproliferative. They are photosensitizing compounds, and judicious exposure to sunlight can be beneficial.

Aloe vera Aloe vera , which is Class 1 internally and Class 2d externally McGuffin et al. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, 60 patients with slight to moderate plaque psoriasis were treated topically with either 0.

The aloetreated group showed statistically significant improvement There were no adverse effects reported in the treatment group Syed et al. Capsaicin is the main ingredient in cayenne pepper C.

frutescens , which is Class 1 internally but Class 2d externally McGuffin et al. In vitro, capsaicin was found to inhibit phorbol ester-induced activation of transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 Surh et al.

Two trials showed that 0. The first study showed a significant decrease in scaling and erythema during a 6-week period in 44 patients with moderate and severe psoriasis Bernstein et al.

The second was a double-blind study of patients in whom psoriasis was treated with the capsaicin cream four times daily for 6 weeks, with a significant decrease in scaling, thickness, erythema, and pruritus Ellis et al. The main adverse effect reported was a brief burning sensation at the application site.

Capsaicin is contraindicated on injured skin or near the eyes, and the German authority Commission E suggests it should not be used for more than 2 consecutive days, with a day lapse between applications.

This is consistent with previous Norwegian surveys of patients with psoriasis Jensen Herbal therapy is one of the most frequently chosen alternative therapies. Psoriasis has been treated for centuries with herbal preparations, both topical and oral. There are many herbal preparations composed of furocoumarins, which act as psoralens when combined with ultraviolet A UV-A, — nm.

Furocoumarins derived from Ammi majus and related plants that produce 8-methoxy-psoralen when applied topically or taken orally intercalate with DNA. Further, when coupled with exposure to UV-A from the sun or a an ultraviolet light-box, the photoactivation causes cross-linkages with the thymine in the DNA, inducing cell death van Wyk and Wink This, in turn, inhibits hyperproliferation in psoriatic lesions.

One commonly used TCM, Radix Angelicae dahurica , included in Class 1 McGuffin et al. In a study involving patients with psoriasis, this TCM, taken orally, was combined with UV-A therapy and was compared with the standard treatment of psoralen—UV-A with methoxsalen.

The efficacy of the two treatments was equivalent; however, there were fewer adverse effects such as nausea and dizziness in the group treated with TCM and UV-A Koo and Arain In addition, there are topical preparations made from herbs that show systemic efficacy against psoriasis, but are too toxic when given systemically Ng Some types of TCM may act in part on the microcirculation of the psoriatic lesion Zhang and Gu Additional TCM herbal mixtures for psoriasis are listed by Xu Turmeric has been used for centuries in India to provide glow and luster to the skin.

It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, astringent, and other useful effects that help to heal wounds and reduce scarring Chaturvedi In vitro, the purified turmeric extract curcumin has been found to inhibit phorbol ester-induced activation of transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 Surh et al.

The resulting suppression of phosphorylase kinase activity correlates with the resolution of psoriasis when curcumin is applied topically to the lesions Heng et al.

Microencapsulation of curcumin reduces the yellow staining produced by application of topical curcumin on the skin, while prolonging the bioavailability of curcumin Aziz, Peh, and Tan Tars have been used for centuries to treat psoriasis.

They are photosensitizing compounds, so judicious exposure to sunlight can be beneficial, or they can be used in conjunction with ultraviolet B UV-B; — nm or narrowband UV-B nm. Depression and anxiety can cause skin problems. Kava kava Piper methysticum has moderate anxiolytic effects, but its use is not recommended due to its potential hepatotoxicity.

It is included in Classes 2b, 2c, and 2d McGuffin et al. Lavender oil aromatherapy Lavendula spp. has been demonstrated to produce significant reduction in anxiety. This may in part be a conditioned response, and it is important that the first exposure to lavender oil is a pleasant and relaxing one.

It is Class 1 McGuffin et al. Lemon balm M. officinalis is approved by the German authority Commission E for treating nervousness and insomnia.

It is also Class 1 McGuffin et al. Magnolia bark Magnolia obovata has moderate anxiolytic effects. It contains honokiol and magnolol, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory Kuribara, Stavinoha, and Maruyama effects. It is Class 2b McGuffin et al. Passion flower Passiflora incarnata is approved by Commission E for treating nervousness and insomnia.

perforatum is approved by Commission E for treating depression. It is helpful for treating mild to moderate depression but not for severe depression Linde et al. It has significant interactions with the metabolism of a number of other drugs by inducing cytochrome P isoform 3A4, and is Class 2d McGuffin et al.

Valerian Valariana spp. is approved by Commission E for treating insomnia caused by nervousness. Anise Pimpinella anisum seeds are a source of an essential oil that displays antibacterial and insecticidal activity in vitro and is used topically to treat scabies and head lice. It should not be used in pregnancy and is Class 2b McGuffin et al.

Neem Azadirachta indica is indigenous to India, and every part of the plant is used medicinally. In a study of more than villagers in India, a paste of neem and turmeric applied topically was reported to treat chronic ulcers and scabies Peirce, Fargis, and Scordato It seems to be safe for use in adults, but can be poisonous to children Peirce, Fargis, and Scordato Numerous other herbs have been used for centuries in India and China to treat scabies Fleming Red ginseng Panax ginseng is a classic TCM.

In a recent study, red ginseng extracts used topically were found to inhibit chemically induced skin tumors in mice. This is thought to be due to the immuno-modulating properties of red ginseng Cheng, Lin and Lei et al.

It is Class 2d McGuffin et al. Propolis is a resinous material gathered by honeybees from the buds and bark of certain plants and trees. Propolis has been used for centuries for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antitumor effects, which are thought to result from the flavinoid and related phenolic acids components.

A tumoricidal component, clerodane diterpenoid, has also been isolated. This compound was studied regarding its topical effects on skin tumorigenesis in mice. Clerodane diterpenoid appeared to reduce the incidence of chemically induced dysplastic papillomas by inhibiting the synthesis of DNA in a de novo pathway and by suppressing the growth of tumors by decreasing DNA synthesis in a salvage pathway Mitamura et al.

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis extract is reputed to have antioxidant activity. A methanol extract of the leaves was evaluated for its effects on skin tumors in mice. It was found that topically applied rosemary inhibited induction and promotion of skin tumors in mice treated with known chemical carcinogens.

Although the exact mechanism of action is still under study, it appears that several components of the extract are important in this process. This finding suggests that it was not the antioxidant properties alone that were beneficial in the prevention of skin tumors Huang et al.

Rosemary should not be used in pregnancy as it is a Class 2b herb McGuffin et al. Silymarin is a flavinoid isolated from milk thistle Silybum marianum , and is approved by the German Commission E for treating liver disease because of its antioxidant properties.

An experiment was performed to assess whether this antioxidant effect would protect against tumor promotion. Topically applied silymarin was found to possess highly protective effects against chemically induced skin tumor promotion in mice. This may involve inhibition of promoter-induced edema, hyperplasia, and proliferation, as well as the oxidant state Lahiri-Chatterjee et al.

These results are promising, yet more research involving human models is needed. Silymarin is safe to use topically and orally when used appropriately, and is Class 1 McGuffin et al. Tea is manufactured from the leaf and bud of Camellia sinensis see also Chapter 12 on tea. The majority of tea consumed worldwide is in the form of black tea, which is Class 2d McGuffin et al.

Green tea has been found in several mouse models to have anti-inflammatory and antitumorigenic properties. The polyphenolic constituent — -epigallocatechingallate is thought to be the active ingredient. Numerous studies of green tea and skin cancer were reviewed Katiyar, Ahmad, and Mukhtar It was found that topical application or oral consumption of green tea protects against inflammation, chemical carcinogenesis, and photocarcinogenesis.

Green tea demonstrated the blocking of many mediators in the inflammatory process important in the early steps of skin tumor promotion.

It also appears that there is inhibition of biochemical markers of chemical carcinogenesis, inhibition of UV-induced oxidative stress, and prevention of UV-induced immunosuppression Katiyar, Ahmad, and Mukhtar as a result of action of green tea.

Green tea also protects against psoralen UV-A-induced photochemical damage to the skin Zhao Jin and Yaping et al. Many cosmetics and skin care products have been recently supplemented with green tea, but more research in humans is needed to understand the true benefits.

Black tea may also play a role in the prevention of skin tumors. It appears that theaflavins are the components active in chemoprevention Nomura et al.

Several studies provide evidence that topical application of the constituents of black tea can decrease UV-B-induced erythema, inhibit tumor initiation, and act as an antitumor promoter Javed, Mehrotra, and Shukla ; Zhao Zhang and Jin et al. Oral administration of black tea was also found to inhibit tumor proliferation and promote tumor apoptosis in nonmalignant and malignant skin tumors Lu et al.

A survey of older patients compared tea consumption and history of squamous cell carcinoma. There was a lower risk of squamous cell carcinoma in patients who regularly consumed hot black tea than in nonconsumers Hakim, Harris, and Weisgerber Different studies comparing the effectiveness of black and green teas in protecting against UV-induced skin tumors give conflicting findings as to which is more beneficial Wang et al.

Caffeinated teas seem to be more protective than decaffeinated teas, and caffeine by itself has some inhibitory effects on UV-B-induced carcinogenesis Wang et al. Podophyllin, used to treat condyloma acuminata, is extracted from the root of the American mayapple Podophyllum peltatum; Fleming It should not be used during pregnancy and is Class 2b externally and toxic internally McGuffin et al.

Commission E approves bittersweet nightshade S. dulcamara , Classes 2b and 2c, and oat straw A. sativa , Class 1, for the treatment of common warts McGuffin et al.

Calotropis Calotropis procera is used in India, and greater celandine Chelidonium majus , Classes 2b, 2c, and 2d McGuffin et al. Bittersweet nightshade and celandine should also be avoided in pregnancy and while breast-feeding Fleming Ginkgo G. biloba was found to be effective in a small study for treating limited, slowly spreading vitiligo Parsad, Pandhi, and Juneja Caution should be used when ginkgo is taken orally, as there have been reports of subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhage, as well as increased bleeding time Fleming ; but the herb is included in Class 1 McGuffin et al.

Psoralens, such as the furanocoumarins derived from A. majus and related plants that produce 8-methoxy-psoralen, when applied topically or taken orally, intercalate with DNA. By thus reducing inflammatory cells while stimulating melanogenesis, the treatment often induces repigmentation of vitiliginous skin.

Aloe vera A. vera leaves produce a gel and a juice or latex. The gel is obtained from the central core of the leaf and has been used topically for centuries for the treatment of wounds and burns.

The juice or latex is a bitter yellow fluid extracted from the inner leaf skin and is generally sold dried as a powder that has very potent laxative effects Peirce, Fargis, and Scordato Several case reports and animal studies demonstrate that aloe vera decreases burning, itching, and scarring associated with radiation dermatitis Klein and Penneys Aloe vera was also found to accelerate healing of chronic leg ulcers, surgically induced wounds, and frostbite.

The mechanism of action has been studied in vivo in animal studies. Aloe vera decreases thromboxane A 2 , thromboxane B 2 , and prostaglandin 2α, which cause vasoconstriction and platelet aggregation. By increasing dermal perfusion, tissue loss from ischemia is reduced Klein and Penneys In vitro studies have also demonstrated a carboxypeptidase that inactivates bradykinin, decreasing pain at the treatment site Fujita and Shosike Salicylic acid present in aloe vera acts as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent by inhibiting prostaglandin production Robinson, Heggers, and Hagstrom Magnesium lactate is also present in aloe vera and is thought to be antipruritic by inhibiting histidine decarboxylase, which controls the conversion of histidine to histamine in mast cells Klein and Penneys Reduction in inflammation is also thought to result from the immunomodulatory properties of the gel polysaccharides present, especially the acetylated mannans Reynolds and Dweck Aloe vera also demonstrates bactericidal and antifungal activity in vitro.

The main adverse effect of topical aloe vera gel is that it causes allergic contact dermatitis. There are also reports of delayed healing after laparotomy or a Cesarean section. Taken orally, aloe vera is considered very safe when used properly.

It is Class 1 internally and Class 2d externally McGuffin et al. Asiaticoside in low concentrations has been found to enhance the healing of burn wounds, with evidence suggesting that enhanced angiogenesis may occur as a result of stimulation of vascular endothelial growth factor production Kimura et al.

Honey has been used topically for centuries to assist healing of wounds, including burns, decubitus ulcers, and infected wounds Greenwood It has been found in vitro to have antibacterial and antifungal activity against organisms that commonly infect surgical wounds Efam and Udoh A study was performed on nine infants with large, open, culture-positive postoperative wound infections for whom standard treatment consisting of appropriate intravenous antibiotics and cleansing with chlorhexidine for more than 14 days had failed.

The wounds were then treated with 5—10 mL of fresh, unprocessed honey twice a day. There was marked clinical improvement by day 5, and by day 21, the wounds were all closed, clean, and sterile Vardi et al. The honey-treated wounds healed statistically earlier, with a mean of There have been no reports of significant adverse effects, although there are reports of contact dermatitis to honey Efam Marigold Calendula officinalis has been used topically since ancient times and is approved by the German regulatory authority Commission E as an antiseptic and for wound healing Bisset and Wichtl A topical preparation of marigold continues to be recommended for the treatment of wounds, ulcers, burns, boils, rashes, chapped hands, herpes zoster, and varicose veins.

Marigold gargles are used for mouth and throat inflammation Peirce Marigold is also widely used as a topical treatment for diaper dermatitis and other mild skin inflammations Brown and Dattner The treatment consists of an application several times a day of an ointment or a cream made by mixing 2—5 g of the flower heads with g of ointment.

A gargle or lotion is made by mixing 1—2 tsp 5—10 mL of tincture with 0. The main adverse event is allergic contact dermatitis. No serious adverse effects have been reported, and it is considered safe to use both topically and orally.

The anti-inflammatory effects of marigold are ascribed to the presence of triterpenoids. In animal studies, Calendula was suggested to stimulate granulation and increase glycoproteins and collagen at wound sites Brown and Dattner Marigold also shows in vitro antimicrobial and immune-modulating properties Peirce There are many herbs containing tannins that act as astringents, helping to dry oozing and bleeding wounds.

Some of the more commonly reported tannin-containing herbs that may be helpful for the topical treatment of wounds include English walnut leaf, goldenrod, Labrador tea, lavender, mullein, oak bark, rhatany, Chinese rhubarb, St. Herbal therapies vary greatly in their safety class ratings.

For example, some are consumed as foods and have high safety ratings, whereas others are highly biologically active and toxic and must be used very carefully. The safety classes of the herbs mentioned in this chapter are addressed in each section, and further discussion of interactions of herbal therapies that may be encountered in dermatology is detailed in the remaining sections of the chapter.

Many cutaneous reactions to herbal preparations have been reported, with the most common cutaneous adverse event being allergic contact dermatitis. More serious cutaneous reactions have been reported.

Bullous and nodular lichen planus were reported to be induced by ingestion of native African herbal medicines Soyinka A young woman was also described with leukemia-related Sweet syndrome elicited by a pathergic response to topical arnica cream Delmonte et al.

Serious systemic adverse effects have been reported with the use of TCM herbal mixtures for the treatment of dermatologic disorders. The most common are hepatotoxic effects. Although most patients recover without serious consequences as long as the medication is stopped, there have been reports of patients with acute liver failure leading even to death.

There are also reports of renal failure and agranulocytosis Graham-Brown ; Mostefa-Kara et al. One patient was described with adult respiratory distress syndrome after administration of a TCM, kamisyoyo-san, for seborrheic dermatitis Shota et al.

A patient was reported with reversible dilated cardiomyopathy after receiving treatment for her atopic dermatitis with a Chinese herbal tea Ferguson, Chalmers, and Rowlands There are also reports of Chinese and Indian herbal medicines containing as contaminants heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, and mercury.

Prescription medications have also been found in over-the-counter herbal formulations from other countries. Some herbs are mislabeled or misidentified. There are many possible drug interactions with herbs and prescription medications. It is crucial for patients to share information about what herbs, supplements, and other over-the-counter remedies they are taking or applying to their skin with their physicians.

The most important drug interactions in the dermatologic setting are the immune-upmodulating effects of Echinacea, Astragalus , licorice, alfalfa sprouts, and vitamin E, and zinc may decrease the efficacy of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants Miller Some herbs are reported to cause hepatic damage, and they should not be used in combination with medications such as methotrexate.

These include many of the ingredients in TCM preparations, as well as Echinacea , chaparral, germander, ragwort, and life root Ferguson, Chalmers, and Rowlands ; Borins Herbs containing y-linolenic acid, such as evening primrose oil, which has been used for treating dermatitis, psoriasis, and xerosis, lower the seizure threshold; thus, dosages of anticonvulsants may need to be increased Ferguson, Chalmers, and Rowlands Rue Ruta graveolens and other herbs containing psoralens can cause phototoxic reactions externally on the skin Eickhorst, Deleo, and Csaposs In addition to making them aware of the adverse effects already discussed, patients should be counseled on the relative lack of regulation for herbal medicines.

There are minimal quality-control requirements currently in place in the United States to ensure the purity, concentration, or safety of herbal supplements. Although herb manufacturers are restricted from making efficacy statements, there are no regulations on claims for what symptoms these herbs can alleviate.

In the United States, there are also minimal regulations on which herbs can be restricted in formulations Shaw Herbs may affect blood coagulation. A number of medicinal herbs contain coumarin, salicylate, or other platelet-inhibiting substances that can increase the risk of interoperative and postoperative bleeding.

Some coumarin-containing herbs include danshen Salvia miltiorrhiza , dong quai Angelica sinensis , horse chestnut bark Aesculius hippocastanum , sweet clover M. officinalis , sweet vernal Anthoxanthum odoratum , sweet-scented bedstraw Galium triflorum , tonka beans Dipteryx odorata , vanilla leaf Trilisa odoratissima , and woodruff Asperula odorata.

Salicylate-containing herbs include black cohosh Cimifuga racemosa , meadowsweet Spirea ulmaria , poplar bark Populus spp. Other platelet function inhibitors include bromelain Ananas comosus , cayenne C.

frutescens , Chinese skullcap Scutullaria baicalensis , feverfew Tanacetum parthenium , garlic A. sativum , ginger Zingiber officinale , ginkgo G.

biloba , ginseng Panex ginseng , onion A. cepa , papain Carica papaya , reishi fruit Ganoderma lucidum , and turmeric C. longa; Pribitkin Herbs may also affect blood pressure. Potentially hypertensive plants include black cohosh, ephedra or ma huang Ephedra spp. glabra , and yohimbe Pausinystalia yohimbe.

Potentially hypotensive plants include garlic Pribitkin Further research into the efficacy, safety, optimal uses, and standardization of herbal remedies is clearly needed.

Inhibiting factors in the United States include the nonpatentability of herbal materials in a system in which the typical costs of double-blind testing for Food and Drug Administration FDA approval of drugs range in the millions of dollars, requiring patentability for private enterprises to attain a profit.

Since herbal remedies currently remain in the category of dietary supplements, a different mechanism of funding for research is needed. The funding for complementary and alternative medicines research provided through the National Institutes of Health is meager compared with private and public funding of research for conventional drugs.

Many herbal therapies have been used for centuries, which show good anecdotal results. A few randomized, controlled trials have also demonstrated significant results in the use of herbal therapies for the treatment of dermatologic disorders.

Some countries, such as Germany, now require standardization of herbal preparations and specific recommendations as to the use and efficacy of herbs in the treatment of disease.

It is important to know what common herbal alternatives exist and which potential adverse effects or interactions can occur to permit more effective counseling of patients. Turn recording back on. National Library of Medicine Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD Web Policies FOIA HHS Vulnerability Disclosure.

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Show details Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Search term. Chapter 18 Herbal Treatment for Dermatologic Disorders Philip D.

A cne Fruit acids, such as citric, gluconic, gluconolactone, glycolic, malic, and tartaric acids, used topically have demonstrated some effectiveness in treating acne because of their exfoliative properties. A lopecia Essential oils have been studied in a randomized, controlled, double-blind study of 86 patients with alopecia areata Hey, Jamieson, and Ormerod B acterial And F ungal I nfections Of S kin Garlic Allium sativum contains ajoene, which has been demonstrated to exhibit antifungal activity.

D ermatitis Arnica is derived from the dried flowers of Arnica montana or other arnica species. H erpes S implex Lemon balm Melissa officinalis is a lemon-scented member of the mint family. H erpes Z oster Capsaicin, the main ingredient in cayenne pepper Capiscum frutescens , Class 1 internally but Class 2d externally; McGuffin et al.

H yperhidrosis By precipitating surface proteins, topical tannins can reduce the openings of sweat ducts and thus reduce sweating locally. P ruritus Camphor is derived from the camphor tree Cinnamomum camphora Classes 2b and 2d distillate of the wood McGuffin et al.

P soriasis Aloe vera Aloe vera , which is Class 1 internally and Class 2d externally McGuffin et al. P sychosomatic Depression and anxiety can cause skin problems. S cabies Anise Pimpinella anisum seeds are a source of an essential oil that displays antibacterial and insecticidal activity in vitro and is used topically to treat scabies and head lice.

S kin C ancer Red ginseng Panax ginseng is a classic TCM. V erruca V ulgaris And C ondyloma A ccuminata Podophyllin, used to treat condyloma acuminata, is extracted from the root of the American mayapple Podophyllum peltatum; Fleming V itiligo Ginkgo G. W ounds And B urns Aloe vera A.

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF HERBAL TH ERAPY Herbal therapies vary greatly in their safety class ratings. RESEARCH NEEDS Further research into the efficacy, safety, optimal uses, and standardization of herbal remedies is clearly needed.

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Contact Dermatitis. Delmonte S, Brusati C, Parodi A, Rebora A. Leukemia-related Sweet's syndrome elicited by pathergy to arnica. Diehm C. Comparison of leg compression stocking and oral horse-chestnut seed extract therapy in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.

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Faoagali J, George N, Leditschke J. Does tea tree oil have a place in the topical treatment of burns? Ferguson J. E, Chalmers R. G, Rowlands D. Reversible dilated cardiomyopathy following treatment of atopic eczema with Chinese herbal medicine. Br J Dermatol. Fleischer A. B, Feldman S. R, Rapp S.

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Hausen B. M, Reichling J, Harkenthal M. Degradation products of monoterpenes aresensitizing agents in tea tree oil. Am J Contact Dermat. Heng M. C, Song M. K, Harker J, Heng M. Drug-induces suppression of phosphorylase kinase activity correlates with resolution of psoriasis as assessed by clinical, histological and immuno- histochemical parameters.

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Here are some things you should know about herbals:. Many people think that using plants to treat illness is safer than taking medicine. People have been using plants in folk medicine for centuries.

So, it is easy to see the appeal. Yet "natural" does not mean safe. Unless taken as directed, some herbals can interact with other medicines or be toxic at high doses. Also, some may cause side effects. Of course, some herbals have been tested and work well for their intended purpose. Many are also quite safe, but the word "natural" will not tell you which ones are safe and which ones are not safe.

Some herbals can make you feel better and help keep you healthy. But you need to be a smart consumer. Use these tips when choosing herbal remedies. Aronson JK. Herbal medicines. In: Aronson JK, ed. Meyler's Side Effects of Drugs.

Waltham, MA: Elsevier B. Gardiner P, Filippelli AC, Low Dog T. Prescribing botanicals. In: Rakel D, ed. Integrative Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website.

Using dietary supplements wisely. Updated January Accessed November 24, Information for consumers on using dietary supplements. Updated October 21, Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.

Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A. Editorial team. A guide to herbal remedies.

According to the Institute of Medicine, use of alternative medical techniques may result in several types of harm:. Forms of alternative medicine that are biologically active can be dangerous even when used in conjunction with conventional medicine.

Examples include immuno-augmentation therapy, shark cartilage, bioresonance therapy, oxygen and ozone therapies, and insulin potentiation therapy.

Some herbal remedies can cause dangerous interactions with chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy, or anesthetics during surgery, among other problems.

And lastly there's the cynicism and disappointment and depression that some patients get from going on from one alternative medicine to the next, and they find after three months the placebo effect wears off, and they're disappointed and they move on to the next one, and they're disappointed and disillusioned, and that can create depression and make the eventual treatment of the patient with anything effective difficult, because you may not get compliance, because they've seen the failure so often in the past.

Conventional treatments are subjected to testing for undesired side-effects , whereas alternative therapies, in general, are not subjected to such testing at all.

Any treatment — whether conventional or alternative — that has a biological or psychological effect on a patient may also have potential to possess dangerous biological or psychological side-effects. Attempts to refute this fact with regard to alternative therapies sometimes use the appeal to nature fallacy, i.

An exception to the normal thinking regarding side-effects is homeopathy. Since , the FDA has regulated homeopathic products in "several significantly different ways from other drugs.

They are, thus, considered safe on that count, but "their products are exempt from good manufacturing practice requirements related to expiration dating and from finished product testing for identity and strength", and their alcohol concentration may be much higher than allowed in conventional drugs.

Alternative medicine may discourage people from getting the best possible treatment. According to mental health journalist Scott Lilienfeld in , "unvalidated or scientifically unsupported mental health practices can lead individuals to forgo effective treatments" and refers to this as opportunity cost.

Individuals who spend large amounts of time and money on ineffective treatments may be left with precious little of either, and may forfeit the opportunity to obtain treatments that could be more helpful. In short, even innocuous treatments can indirectly produce negative outcomes.

There have always been "many therapies offered outside of conventional cancer treatment centers and based on theories not found in biomedicine. These alternative cancer cures have often been described as 'unproven,' suggesting that appropriate clinical trials have not been conducted and that the therapeutic value of the treatment is unknown.

The label 'unproven' is inappropriate for such therapies; it is time to assert that many alternative cancer therapies have been 'disproven'. any alternative cancer cure is bogus by definition. There will never be an alternative cancer cure. Because if something looked halfway promising, then mainstream oncology would scrutinize it, and if there is anything to it, it would become mainstream almost automatically and very quickly.

All curative "alternative cancer cures" are based on false claims, are bogus, and, I would say, even criminal. There is no alternative medicine. There is only scientifically proven, evidence-based medicine supported by solid data or unproven medicine, for which scientific evidence is lacking.

Fontanarosa, JAMA [54]. Complementary and alternative medicine CAM is not as well researched as conventional medicine, which undergoes intense research before release to the public.

These studies tend to have a variety of problems, such as small samples, various biases, poor research design, lack of controls, negative results, etc. Even those with positive results can be better explained as resulting in false positives due to bias and noisy data.

Alternative medicine may lead to a false understanding of the body and of the process of science. unproven , based on increased knowledge of its effectiveness or lack thereof.

Prominent supporters of this position are George D. Lundberg , former editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association JAMA and the journal's interim editor-in-chief Phil Fontanarosa.

Writing in in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians Barrie R. Cassileth mentioned a letter to the United States Senate 's Subcommittee on Public Health and Safety, which had deplored the lack of critical thinking and scientific rigor in OAM-supported research, had been signed by four Nobel Laureates and other prominent scientists.

This was supported by the National Institutes of Health NIH. In March , a staff writer for The Washington Post reported that the impending national discussion about broadening access to health care, improving medical practice and saving money was giving a group of scientists an opening to propose shutting down the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

They quoted one of these scientists, Steven Salzberg , a genome researcher and computational biologist at the University of Maryland, as saying "One of our concerns is that NIH is funding pseudoscience.

Writers such as Carl Sagan , a noted astrophysicist, advocate of scientific skepticism and the author of The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark , have lambasted the lack of empirical evidence to support the existence of the putative energy fields on which these therapies are predicated.

Sampson has also pointed out that CAM tolerated contradiction without thorough reason and experiment. Some critics of alternative medicine are focused upon health fraud, misinformation, and quackery as public health problems, notably Wallace Sampson and Paul Kurtz founders of Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine and Stephen Barrett , co-founder of The National Council Against Health Fraud and webmaster of Quackwatch.

Many alternative medical treatments are not patentable , [] which may lead to less research funding from the private sector. In addition, in most countries, alternative therapies in contrast to pharmaceuticals can be marketed without any proof of efficacy — also a disincentive for manufacturers to fund scientific research.

English evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins , in his book A Devil's Chaplain , defined alternative medicine as a "set of practices that cannot be tested, refuse to be tested, or consistently fail tests. CAM is also often less regulated than conventional medicine. According to two writers, Wallace Sampson and K.

Butler, marketing is part of the training required in alternative medicine, and propaganda methods in alternative medicine have been traced back to those used by Hitler and Goebels in their promotion of pseudoscience in medicine.

In November Edzard Ernst stated that the "level of misinformation about alternative medicine has now reached the point where it has become dangerous and unethical.

So far, alternative medicine has remained an ethics-free zone. It is time to change this. Harriet Hall criticized the low standard of evidence accepted by the alternative medicine community:.

Science-based medicine has one rigorous standard of evidence, the kind [used for pharmaceuticals] CAM has a double standard. They gladly accept a lower standard of evidence for treatments they believe in. However, I suspect they would reject a pharmaceutical if it were approved for marketing on the kind of evidence they accept for CAM.

Some commentators have said that special consideration must be given to the issue of conflicts of interest in alternative medicine.

Edzard Ernst has said that most researchers into alternative medicine are at risk of "unidirectional bias" because of a generally uncritical belief in their chosen subject. Research into alternative therapies has been criticized for "diverting research time, money, and other resources from more fruitful lines of investigation in order to pursue a theory that has no basis in biology.

Barker Bausell , has stated that "it's become politically correct to investigate nonsense. In the Senate Appropriations Committee responsible for funding the National Institutes of Health NIH declared itself "not satisfied that the conventional medical community as symbolized at the NIH has fully explored the potential that exists in unconventional medical practices.

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Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikiquote. Form of non-scientific healing. General information.

Alternative medicine History Terminology Alternative veterinary medicine Quackery health fraud Rise of modern medicine Pseudoscience Antiscience Skepticism Scientific Therapeutic nihilism.

Fringe medicine and science. Conspiracy theories. Alternative medical systems Mind—body intervention Biologically based therapy Manipulative methods Energy therapy.

Traditional medicine. African Muti Southern Africa Ayurveda Dosha MVAH Balneotherapy Brazilian Bush medicine Cambodian Chinese Blood stasis Chinese herbology Dit da Gua sha Gill plate trade Long gu Meridian Moxibustion Pressure point Qi San Jiao Tui na Zang-fu Chumash Curandero Faith healing Hilot Iranian Jamu Kayakalpa Kambo Japanese Korean Mien Shiang Mongolian Prophetic medicine Shamanism Shiatsu Siddha Sri Lankan Thai massage Tibetan Unani Vietnamese.

Adrenal fatigue Aerotoxic syndrome Candida hypersensitivity Chronic Lyme disease Electromagnetic hypersensitivity Heavy legs Leaky gut syndrome Multiple chemical sensitivity Wilson's temperature syndrome. See also: Terminology of alternative medicine. See also: Traditional medicine.

See also: List of forms of alternative medicine. Main article: Herbal medicine. See also: Shamanism. Main article: History of alternative medicine. Further information: Regulation of alternative medicine and Regulation and prevalence of homeopathy. This section needs expansion.

You can help by adding to it. May See also: List of herbs with known adverse effects. Most of these practices are used together with conventional therapies and therefore have been called complementary to distinguish them from alternative practices, those used as a substitute for standard care.

Until a decade ago or so, 'complementary and alternative medicine' could be defined as practices that are neither taught in medical schools nor reimbursed, but this definition is no longer workable, since medical students increasingly seek and receive some instruction about complementary health practices, and some practices are reimbursed by third-party payers.

Another definition, practices that lack an evidence base, is also not useful, since there is a growing body of research on some of these modalities, and some aspects of standard care do not have a strong evidence base.

CAM includes such resources perceived by their users as associated with positive health outcomes. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM domain and the domain of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed. There cannot be two kinds of medicine — conventional and alternative.

There is only medicine that has been adequately tested and medicine that has not, medicine that works and medicine that may or may not work speculation, and testimonials do not substitute for evidence.

Although the Commissioners support the provision of the most accurate information about the state of the science of all CAM modalities, they believe that it is premature to advocate the wide implementation and reimbursement of CAM modalities that are yet unproven.

To cure in a mild, prompt, safe, and durable manner, it is necessary to choose in each case a medicine that will excite an affection similar ὅμοιος πάθος to that against which it is employed.

Ludmerer noted in "Flexner pointed out that the scientific method of thinking applied to medical practice. By scientific method, he meant testing ideas with well-planned experiments to establish accurate facts.

The clinician's diagnosis was equivalent to the scientist's hypothesis: both medical diagnosis and hypothesis required the test of an experiment. Flexner argued that mastery of the scientific method of problem solving was the key for physicians to manage medical uncertainty and to practice in the most cost-effective way.

Consumer health: a guide to intelligent decisions 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN OCLC New England Journal of Medicine. CiteSeerX doi : PMID Archived PDF from the original on Suckers: How Alternative Medicine Makes Fools of Us All.

Random House. Further rebranding has given rise to the notion of 'integrated medicine'. S2CID Israel Journal of Health Policy Research. PMC July—August The Atlantic.

Archived from the original on 10 May Retrieved 6 June Retrieved March 25, Official Journal of the European Union. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

ISSN National Science Foundation. Archived from the original on February 18, Retrieved March 15, Pseudoscience and the Paranormal 2nd ed. Amerst, New York: Prometheue Books. Academic Medicine. Medical Journal of Australia. Canadian Medical Association Journal. Nature Reviews Immunology.

Archived from the original on Retrieved National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. In Saks, M. Alternative Medicine in Britain. Oxford: Clarendon Press. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health NCCIH , National Institutes of Health NIH , US Dept.

of Health and Human Services US HHS. Kopelman Wieland et al. Astin, J. JAMA Internal Medicine. Pelletier, K. American Journal of Health Promotion.

of Health and Human Services Staff United States March White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy Final Report Report. US Government Printing Office.

Chapter 2 archived Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Complementary medicine, defined as health care which lies for the most part outside the mainstream of conventional medicine. The Lancet. NCI website. Physician Data Query PDQ. National Cancer Institute NCI , NIH. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. The Surgeon. National Health Service. March 1, Cancer Research UK. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Clinical Therapeutics. Nature Reviews Cancer. Science-Based Medicine. Mass-Media Delegitimation of Homeopathy Education". Science as Culture. Integrative medicine. Harcourt International. The Oncologist. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy. World Health Organization Report. American Board of Physician Specialties.

July 16, Retrieved March 11, Frontiers in Public Health. Traditional medicine is defined as the ways of protecting and restoring health that existed before the arrival of modern medicine.

It is underestimated part of healthcare that finds in almost every country in the world. Traditional medicine has been being used in the maintenance of health and the prevention, diagnosis, improvement, or treatment of physical and mental illness.

Traditional medicine, as defined by the World Health Organization, is the sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement, or treatment of physical and mental illness.

Some traditional medicine systems are supported by huge volumes of literature and records of the theoretical concepts and practical skills; others pass down from generation to generation through verbal teaching. Paris: UNESCO International Bioethics Committee.

Retrieved 29 March Whereas traditional medicine is based on analogical reasoning and a holistic approach to disease and health, conventional medicine rests on scientific knowledge and is evidence-based.

Nature Plants. Although the initial development of these holistic traditional herbal prescriptions predated modern science, the process was based on thousands of years of phenotype-based and personalized human clinical trials.

Meanwhile, meticulous descriptions of disease symptoms and systematic medical theories have also been recorded by generations of herbal doctors, relating therapeutic properties of diverse medicinal plants to their utility in treating specific symptoms. Yet most of the foundational concepts in the traditional medical systems—for example, the concepts of yin versus yang and cold versus hot in traditional Chinese medicine—are disconnected from the modern descriptions of normal and disease states in the language of physiology and molecular biology.

The lack of modern scientific and clinical evidence for safety, efficacy and action mechanisms further prevented those holistic herbal medicine prescriptions from being accepted beyond their culture of origin. March Journal of Ethnopharmacology. When adopted outside its traditional or root culture, traditional medicine is often classified as a form of alternative medicine AM , for example by Western professional medical organizations, insurers and healthcare systems.

This problematically leads to lack of regulation e. where these approaches are at best relegated to the nutraceutical market largely outside the FDA sphere of regulation and a lack of fidelity to original formulations, dose schedules, delivery methods and indications.

International Journal of Health Sciences. Complementary and alternative healthcare and medical practices CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. The list of practices that are considered as CAM changes continually as CAM practices and therapies that are proven safe and effective become accepted as the "mainstream" healthcare practices Alternative medicine is commonly categorized together with complementary medicine under the umbrella term "complementary and alternative medicine".

Complementary medicine refers to therapies that complement traditional western or allopathic medicine and is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine.

Alternative medicine refers to therapeutic approaches taken in place of traditional medicine and used to treat or ameliorate disease.

Oxford University Press OUP. Nonetheless, human research is needed 6. Potential side effects include headaches, poor sleep, and digestive issues 7.

Ginseng is available at most health food stores, as well as online. Ginseng is an herbal remedy frequently utilized in traditional Chinese medicine to boost immunity, brain function, and energy levels.

However, human studies are lacking. Ginkgo biloba, also known simply as ginkgo, is an herbal medicine derived from the maidenhair tree 8. Native to China, ginkgo has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years and remains a top-selling herbal supplement today.

It contains a variety of potent antioxidants that are thought to provide several benefits 8. The seeds and leaves are traditionally used to make teas and tinctures, but most modern applications use leaf extract.

Some people also enjoy eating the raw fruit and toasted seeds. However, the seeds are mildly toxic and should only be eaten in small quantities, if at all.

Ginkgo is said to treat a wide range of ailments, including heart disease, dementia, mental difficulties, and sexual dysfunction. Yet, studies have not proven it effective for any of these conditions 9. You can shop for ginkgo online or at supplement shops.

Gingko is traditionally used to treat numerous illnesses, including heart disease, dementia, and sexual dysfunction, but modern research has yet to prove its efficacy for any of these purposes.

Elderberry is an ancient herbal medicine typically made from the cooked fruit of the Sambucus nigra plant. It has long been used to relieve headaches, nerve pain, toothaches, colds, viral infections, and constipation Some people prefer to make their own syrup or tea by cooking elderberries with other ingredients, such as honey and ginger.

Test-tube studies demonstrate that its plant compounds have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties, but human research is lacking Short-term use is considered safe, but the unripe or raw fruit is toxic and may cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Elderberry is used to treat cold and flu symptoms, with some research suggesting that it may be at least mildly effective.

Its small, yellow flowers are commonly used to make teas, capsules, or extracts Its use can be traced back to ancient Greece, and SJW is still frequently prescribed by medical professionals in parts of Europe Historically, it was utilized to aid wound healing and alleviate insomnia, depression, and various kidney and lung diseases.

Many studies note that short-term use of SJW is as effective as some conventional antidepressants. SJW has relatively few side effects but may cause allergic reactions, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth, and increased light sensitivity It also interferes with numerous medications, including antidepressants, birth control, blood thinners, certain pain medications, and some types of cancer treatments Particular drug interactions could be fatal, so if you take any prescription medications, consult your healthcare provider prior to using SJW.

If you decide to try it out, SJW is available online and in numerous stores. Yet, you may need to practice caution or avoid it because it interferes with several conventional medicines.

Turmeric Curcuma longa is an herb that belongs to the ginger family Used for thousands of years in cooking and medicine alike, it has recently garnered attention for its potent anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin is the major active compound in turmeric.

It may treat a host of conditions, including chronic inflammation, pain, metabolic syndrome, and anxiety In particular, multiple studies reveal that supplemental doses of curcumin are as effective for alleviating arthritis pain as some common anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen Both turmeric and curcumin supplements are widely considered safe, but very high doses may lead to diarrhea, headache, or skin irritation.

Instead, consider purchasing supplements online. Turmeric is renowned for its anti-inflammatory benefits and may be especially effective for treating pain associated with arthritis. Ginger is a commonplace ingredient and herbal medicine. You can eat it fresh or dried, though its main medicinal forms are as a tea or capsule.

Much like turmeric, ginger is a rhizome, or stem that grows underground. It contains a variety of beneficial compounds and has long been used in traditional and folk practices to treat colds, nausea, migraines, and high blood pressure 18 ,