H erbal medicines have been used in many different cultures for thousands of years. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 per cent of the world's population presently uses herbal medicine for their primary method of health care. Many modern medications come from plants or were first discovered in plants.
Herbal medicines are like mild drugs and help mild symptoms of some health conditions.
Medical drugs, on the other hand, are concentrated active ingredients for when more intense or precise treatment is needed. Research has shown that some traditional herbal remedies are effective in treating some medical conditions. Sometimes the chemicals in plants that are used as herbal medications can also be harmful. If you are considering using an herbal product, choose your products wisely. Health Canada is in the process of setting up a system to regulate herbal products, but in the meantime, quality may not be guaranteed.