Due to the complex nature of herbal names a bottle may actually contain an entirely different ingredient from the one listed on the label. Standardization is an important issue with the use of herbal remedies. Standardization means that every product of a certain herb would contain the same amounts of active ingredient. As it is now, one product may contain 10 percent active ingredient, and another product 5 percent. These two examples are not standardized.
Many people feel that alternative remedies are harmless.
That is not always true. It is because of a technicality that these products are not considered drugs. They often function in much the same way as over the counter and prescription medications. A danger exists with the vast availability of these medications. Self-treatment with some of these herbs can lead to liver or kidney failure.