subject: Should You Take Herbal Supplements [print this page] Many people know they do not eat a balanced, nutritious diet and fear for their health. They feel that adding dietary or herbal supplements to their daily eating regimen will add what they need to their diet. One of the most common mistakes people make is sometimes mistaking dietary herbal supplements for nutritious herbal supplements.
Herbal supplements are basically just ways to supplement the body with anything that your lifestyle may be depriving it of having that will promote proper bodily function. The United States Food and Drug Administration considers herbal supplements to be dietary supplements. Although these supplements are derived from natural sources, they should be used with caution, particularly in concentrated forms such as extracts.
Herbal supplements are becoming the preferred choice for many people and may no longer be known as "alternate" treatment! Herbal supplements are used today by people who are concerned about their health and would like to enhance their chances to maintain healthy, active lifestyles for longer years to come. Always consult your doctor before taking herbal supplements.
Herbal supplements, on the other hand, are not approved by the FDA as having therapeutic effects, nor claim to have any healing effects. Herbal supplements do not have to be approved as products that would treat a specific ailment and usually contain a variety of vitamins, minerals, and herbs that can add to a person's physical well being, or help with his diet. It is also important to know that these supplements are not intended to substitute for food or medicine --- they are supplemental only.
The best herbal supplements are truthful and do not claim to be an absolute cure or treatment for any condition. Beware of claims that are too good to be true, especially those that claim to address a wide spectrum of health concerns.
The World Health Organization (WHO) currently estimates that 80 percent of the global population presently uses herbal medicine for some aspects of primary health care. Herbal treatment is a major aspect in all traditional medicine systems, and a common ingredient in homeopathic, Ayurvedic, traditional Chinese and Native American medicine.
The upward trend reflects that more people are choosing to include herbal supplements into their daily health regimen. People are taking their health more responsibly and experiencing the positive health benefits of herbal supplements. With much research substantiating their claims and fewer side effects, it is obvious that herbal supplements are meeting the health challenges of today.
Herbal supplements for ADHD are all natural, thus they are completely safe. You might think that since herbal supplements are made of plant-based products they pose no health risks. However, high doses of herbs can actually alter your body's chemistry and therefore be just as dangerous as prescription drugs.
You can find a great range of different brands, ingredients, and doses of herbal supplements in health food stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, discount stores, etc. According to medical correspondent Dr. Emily Senay, there are at least 880 different variations of the 10 best selling herbs.
