Chemicals in herbs that were scientifically identified, tested to determine efficacy and safety, and then approved for use become pharmaceuticals, or drugs. Herbal remedies, in contrast, tend to be whole products with no specific chemicals identified that have not been tested in controlled chemical trials to determine safety or efficacy. Interest in alternative and complementary medicine, including herbal remedies, has grown enormously in recent years. Surveys show that more than half of the United States population regularly uses herbal products. This article describes these herbal remedies and explains how they are used.
Special emphasis is given to their potential role, if any, in cancer prevention and management.
It is important for patients to talk with their doctors if they are thinking of using herbal remedies or any other alternative therapies. The American Cancer Society urges individuals with cancer to remain in the care of qualified doctors who use proven methods of treatment and approved clinical trials of promising new treatments. Echinacea was used by Native Americans to treat wounds and respiratory infections. Since the late 1800s, the plant has been used to treat conditions ranging from colds to syphilis. The main role of echinacea is said to be to increase resistance to infection.