So, again, it becomes a personal judgment call between you and your doctor. Herbs are concentrated foods, many of which are known to help the body heal itself. Herbs can offer the body nourishment it may not be receiving due to poor diet, illness or diseases, environmental problems and excess stress. Herbs work to balance the body, so that it can create the best possible health for itself. Vitamins are isolated, concentrated substances.
Most people take vitamin supplements daily to insure against nutritional deficiencies.
While herbs are concentrated, their value is in their wholeness. There are many different elements in herbs and, like food in the digestive system, herbs combine and work with the enzyme activity of the body. Rather than compare herbs to vitamins, it's more accurate to think of them as foods. Herbs do supply nutrients, and they work best when taken in small amounts over a long period of time, allowing the body to awaken to its own vital energies. Chinese herbs have been used for thousands of years and have proven to be very effective in strengthening the immune system.