Other manufacturers have taken a more subtle approach to sell their ephedrine products. Ephedrine use is highly popular among college students and people who work out. Most remain completely unaware of the potential dangers of these products. However, many herbal remedies are dangerous. Many can interact with prescription medication.
Some herbs become toxic if taken with certain drugs, and fatal herb-drug interactions can occur.
The growing trend of self-therapy is very concerning. Now, with the increased interest in alternative medicine, we see a reversion to irrational approaches to medical practice, even while scientific medicine is making some of its most dramatic advances. Exploring the reasons for this paradox is outside the scope of this editorial, but it is probably in part a matter of disillusionment with the often hurried and impersonal care delivered by conventional physicians, as well as the harsh treatments that may be necessary for life-threatening diseases. Fortunately, most untested herbal remedies are probably harmless. In addition, they seem to be used primarily by people who are healthy and believe the remedies will help them stay that way, or by people who have common, relatively minor problems, such as backache or fatigue.