Quality Organic Herbal Remedies

Quality organic herbs that can be taken with good results are those that have been clinically tested and have shown promise for the conditions they treat. Herbal remedies do have the same allergy warnings as prescription medications and they have a risk of potential side effects. Before beginning any herbal treatment plan, check with a health care professional.

Echinacea

Echinacea is in many cold and flu herbal remedies touting its use for prevention and treatment. While it gets mixed reviews from clinical trials for its symptom relief, it does seem to lessen the length of the cold, according to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Echinacea can also be used for an immune system boost and for antibacterial purposes. Potential side effects include dizziness, nausea, constipation, headache, dermatitis, and mild stomach pain as well as possible allergic reactions. This herb should not be taken continuously for longer than a two month period.

Fenugreek

Fenugreek is an herbal remedy for the lowering of cholesterol and for lowering blood glucose levels. According to the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, fenugreek may lower these things by the fiber binding with cholesterol and glucose in the body, flushing it away instead of absorbing it. Fenugreek has the potential side effects of diarrhea, bleeding, bruising, gas, skin sensitivity, low blood sugar, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto is an herbal treatment for benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. BPH is another term for an enlarged prostate. In clinical testing, according to MedlinePlus, the effectiveness of saw palmetto is similar to finasteride, the medicine in Proscar, with a lesser amount of potential side effects. Potential side effects of saw palmetto do include headache, dizziness, insomnia, depression, muscle pain, chest pain, high blood pressure and breathing difficulties.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a calming herb that is used in anxiety and insomnia treatments. This herbal remedy helps reduce stress and is often found combined with other herbs like chamomile and valerian. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, it shows promise in calming anxiety symptoms and promoting sleep. Although generally considered a very safe herb, it may interact with some thyroid medications and sedatives. Always ask your doctor before adding any herbal remedy to your treatment program.

Herbal remedies have been going through laboratory testing and clinical trials to test their effectiveness. Some have proven themselves promising while others have shown no help at all with the conditions they have been marketed to treat. Always check the background of an herb before starting an herbal remedy and check with your doctor on how it will affect your condition.

Read on How to Make Herbal RemediesHow to Make Lemon Balm TeaLemon Balm

Sources:

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center mskcc Accessed Aug 2010

MedlinePlus nlm.nih.gov Accessed Aug 2010

University of Maryland Medical Center umm.edu Accessed 2010

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.

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