Side effects of herbal medicine

Side effects of herbal medicine

Is it true thatherbal remedies do not have side effects ? 

In general , drugs of plant works by improving the body's immune system , so that the disease can be disabled by the body itself . But , naturally , the body will always react to all incoming substances , either traditional medicine or medicinal chemistry , what more if taken to excess . Herbal remedies can also be toxins to the body . Adverse Drug Reactions herbs may differ between individuals .

Side effect of herbal medicine , it turns out there , this is caused by many factors , among others :
 

- Excessive use of herbal medicines

Excessive use of herbal medicine was can cause side effects , excessive drug delivery to exceed specified levels , would affect one organ . For it carefully before buying is safe steps to view the content of herbal medicine .
Generally even been tested . Herbal remedies are actually very safe for the body in the healing process , although time consuming , but will improve the overall system of the body is damaged .
 

- Left / right way of taking medication

 
Time to take medication , usually before meals unless the drug stimulates the stomach , then taken after meals . Efficacious drug taken with an empty stomach tonic and sedative drugs efficacious when taken to sleep . On chronic diseases taken as regularly scheduled . Medicinal decoction can be drunk as often as possible as required or taken as a tea substitute. Drug is usually taken one dose a day is divided to 2-3 times the drink .

These side effects can occur in several ways , such as toxicity , contraindications with other drugs , and others.

Some things to consider in the use of herbal medicines include:

 
• the safety of herbal medicines in general
• The content of toxins that may be contained in the herbal plants used
• Adverse effects on specific organs , such as the cardiovascular system , nervous system , liver , kidneys and skin ;
• the safety of herbal medicines for vulnerable users , eg children and adolescents , the elderly , during pregnancy and breast-feeding women , patients with cancer and surgical patients
• interactions that may occur among the components of herbal medicine
.
The decision to use herbal medicines usually do not as a form of resistance to synthetic drugs or drug manufacturer , but rather a community desire to maintain their own health and natural independently . Society also believes alternative medicine with herbal harmony with philosophical values ​​that exist in society . In addition , there is a belief that motivates the use of something natural that is safe . It is somewhat misleading and not entirely true , because herbal medicines also contain a variety of active chemical compounds which can have a detrimental side effects .

The following are some tips to minimize the side effects of herbal medicine , and how to easily identify the herbs we will consume.
According www.suaramedia.com , medicinal plants are divided into two kinds . First , dried herbs , or botanicals called . Secondly , the plant is still fresh , or picked from the tree , so that the water content it contains much . Its use as a drug in the can (drink / oral ) or external drug / topical (applied , scrubbed , massages and for drugs ) .

In principle , herbal remedies can have the same potential side effects with synthetic drugs . Herbal treatment , which uses plant parts ( roots , leaves , stems , etc. ) , contain active substances that could potentially harm the body . Our bodies can not distinguish whether the active substances derived from medicinal plants or from herbal plant extracts .

Some herbs can cause serious problems in people with certain conditions , such as those who underwent surgery , children , pregnant women , and the elderly . Some herbs also affect certain organs in all people .

Necessary prudence in the use of plants for treatment . To minimize the side effects of herbal medicine , the following steps can be done when we are going to use the plant for the treatment of :

Similar plants

Carefully identify the types of plants because many plants are similar . Usually , plants are included in a single family there that have similarities in physical characteristics .

Recognize the name carefully

Name of the raw plant is the scientific name ( latin name , botanical name ) , regional and trade names are often ambiguous and overlapping .

Time of collection / harvest

Time , harvesting and post harvest handling of materials is a critical period that will determine the quality and quantity of crop yields . Therefore time , the harvesting and handling of crops right and true is the deciding factor of quality and quantity . Each type of plant has a time and a different way of harvesting . Plants that produce fruits have the time and a different way of harvesting the crops harvested in the form of seeds , roots , leaves , bark and stems . So are plants that are stressed environments will have different harvest time though the same types of plants .
• The leaves are picked when flowering plants s / d unripe fruit .
• Flowers collected before or after bloom .
• Fruits are picked in a ripe state .
• Seeds collected from perfectly ripe fruit .
• Roots , rhizomes , tubers and bulbs when plants are not growing anymore .

Washing and drying

Ingredients that have been collected immediately washed , preferably with running water . Once clean , can be utilized if necessary use the freshest ingredients . However , it can also be dried to be stored and used at any time when needed .

Drying aims to reduce water levels and circumvent decomposition by fungi or bacteria . Thus , the material can be kept longer in the jar or sealed container . Dried material is also easily crushed if you want to create a powder.

Here's how to dry ingredients :

• Materials are large and contain a lot of water can be cut into pieces as needed beforehand .
• Drying can be directly in the sun , or wear protective gear such as fine wire if it does not require drying too quickly .
• Drying can also be done with air the material in the shade or in the drying chamber air flow is good .

The nature and flavor of plants

The use of these herbs should pay attention to the nature and taste of the plant . The nature and flavor of this plant affect the efficacy and side effects generated .

In the Traditional Chinese Pharmacology known properties 4 and 5 kinds of flavors of medicinal plants , which are part of the way of traditional eastern medicine . The properties of the four kinds of medicinal plants that are cold , hot , warm , and cool . Medicinal plants that are used to heat and warm the cold syndrome treatment , such as patients who are afraid of the cold , cold hands and feet , pale tongue or slow pulse . Medicinal plants that are cold and are used for the treatment of mild heat syndrome , such as fever , thirst , dark yellow urine color , red tongue or rapid pulse .

Five kinds of medicinal herbs taste is spicy , sweet , sour , bitter , and salty . This flavor is used for a specific purpose because in addition to dealing with an organ , also has its own properties and usability . For example, spicy flavor has spread and stimulating properties . The sweet taste of nutritious tonic and remedy . Sour taste and nutritious preserve pengelat . Can eliminate the bitter taste of the hot and humid . While saltiness soften and as a laxative . Sometimes there is also the added sixth taste , which is neutral or bargaining is efficacious as a laxative urine .

Boiling medicinal plants

The boiling process aims to extract or withdraw from the active substances in medicinal plants with water media . Therefore, water is known as a good solvent . The duration of boiling herbs depending on the texture of each medicinal plants . If the fiber is smooth , like jasmine flowers , gotu kola leaf , and leaf cat whiskers , simply boiled about 15 minutes. For plants made ​​from hard , such as cinnamon , cloves , or brotowali rods , boiling water will take longer .

Boiling is generally performed in an earthen pot , ceramic pot , or panic emails . Ceramic pots can be purchased in traditional Chinese medicine store . Panic of iron , aluminum or brass should not be used for boiling . This reminded because these materials can cause sediment , low drug concentration , the formation of toxic or side effects due to chemical reactions with the drug substance .

Use clean water to boil . Fresh water should be used , unless specified otherwise . How to boil the following ingredients . Materials incorporated into the potting soil . Add water until the material completely submerged and the water level about 30 mm on it . Boiling begins when the water has seeped into the medicinal ingredients .

Perform boiling with appropriate fire -making instructions . If the flame is not specified , it is usually done boiling over high heat until the water boils . Subsequent fire reduced the cooking water to prevent overflow or dry up too quickly . However, sometimes large and small fire flame used on their own as the ingredients boil . For example , tonic efficacious drugs commonly boiled with a small flame so efficacious substance can be completely removed in the cooking water . Similarly medicinal plants that contain toxins that need to be boiled with a small fire in a little time , about 3-5 hours to reduce the toxic levels . Large flame used for medicinal herb that is meant to be a quick boiling and evaporation excess of substances that are active components of plants can be prevented .

Duration of treatment

Medicinal plants are still in the form of crude drugs , treatment results seem slow , but constructive or building . This is in contrast with the results of chemical drug treatment looks fast but destructive . Therefore , a drug derived from plants are not recommended for acute infectious diseases . Medicinal plants are preferred to maintain the health and treatment of chronic diseases can not be cured with chemical drugs , or require a combination of chemical drugs with potent medicinal plant .
No harm in utilizing herbs in everyday life . Ranging from increased sexuality , lowering cholesterol levels to slimming , herbal arguably mastermind !
According to medical journals , including herbal Indonesian second best in the world after Brazil . No wonder if this time , foreign scientists began researching and posting Indonesian herbal properties .
 
Yes , herbs can indeed be used as therapy promotive , preventive and even curative in health problems . Can also be used as a therapy to slimming sexuality issues , as explained dr . Adji Suranto , members PDPKT DKI ( Indonesian Doctors Association of Traditional Eastern Health Development Capital Territory ) and dr . Nizmawardini , Kes , teaching acupuncture ( vice chairman PDPKT DKI ) also herbalist Indonesia ( researcher PDHMI ) .

The following are tips to reduce the likelihood of side effects of herbal medicine , especially if you intend to make their own drugs from medicinal plant materials .
• Observe carefully if the plants that you will be a cure , because there are many types of plants that are similar , such as the form of rhizome - rimpangan only be identified by examining the color and type smell. Do not until you experience side effects due to incorrect use of herbal medicine ingredients .
• Wash your harvest new materials with clean running water in order to remove all the dirt and make sure there is no dirt or other materials , such as pesticides or small animal , which is attached to the time processed into herbal medicine , so as not to contaminate the herb .
• To neutralize the side effects of a decoction of medicinal herbs , such as soursop leaves , boiled coupled with bitter leaf or leaves of gotu kola . You can also add a little honey in water results soursop leaf decoction to eliminate the side effects .
• If you want to store the herbs in a long time , you can dry them and then store it in a clean, covered container . Make the process of drying it properly so that your herbs are not rotting or overgrown with fungus .
• Use special containers for boiling , eg soil or ceramic pot , pot metal because it feared could contaminate the cooked ingredients . The size of the stove also needs to be considered , due to certain plants , the fire is too large to eliminate the drug efficacy .

Tips to minimize adverse effects on the required especially if you intend to mix their own herbal medicines to cure disease or to maintain a healthy body . If you do not want to ( or could not ) make their own herbal remedies , you can choose traditional medicines from medicinal plants have been produced in a modern , safe , and be under the supervision of the competent authority .