Both decreased exposure to sunlight and increased skin pigmentation may result in decreased production of vitamin D in the skin, and subsequent vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency may lead to rickets, seizures related to decreased levels of calcium, and poor growth. For these reasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics may soon recommend that all exclusively breastfed babies receive vitamin D supplementation. Ask your healthcare provider about how to obtain vitamin D supplements at your healthcare facility. Wash. Alternative medicine, including the use of herbal remedies, has become quite popular among Americans.
Estimates are that a third of the population now consumes some form of herbal supplement.
While the vast majority of these supplements are basically safe, as with anything, both good and bad can result from their consumption. This article's focus is on the potential for adverse effects and drug interactions. Always keep your physician or pharmacist informed about any herbal products you may be taking. The medical community has been scrambling over the last year or so to catch up with the herbal frenzy. You, the patient, have a responsibility to ensure that the herb you put in your body will, as Hippocrates says, do no harm.