Herbal therapy hazards

There is a lack of backstop mechanism. Patients typically use the same pharmacy. The pharmacy s computerized records flag any potentially hazardous interaction with a prescription. A backstop mechanism usually is not in place for herbal therapies. 

Herbal therapies expose patients to potential hazards. Common hazards are ... 

Herbal therapies have a therapeutic effect and are acceptable interventions for diseases and symptoms. However, the lack of standards in manufacturing and lack of oversight by regulatory agencies exposes patients to potential hazards. 

Another hazard is the route in which herbal therapy is administered. For example, comfrey is used as an ointment to relieve swelling that is associated with abrasions and sprains. However, internal use can cause liver damage. Some comfrey therapies are designed for internal use. One such use is treating a cough using comfrey as an expectorant. 

While herbal therapies provide patients with a therapeutic effect, they can also leave the patient exposed to hazards. When combined with conventional therapies, herbal therapies can produce a toxic effect or an adverse reaction. 

It is a curious assumption, and illogical that a complementary therapy could have sufficient pharmacological activity to improve health (however imprecisely that may be defined), and yet these properties are automatically insufficient to cause harm. Part of the problem is that adverse reactions to natural therapies are not reported in the same way as for orthodox drugs (Barnes et al., 1998). Reporting bias also tends toward the association of adverse effects with the condition being treated rather than from the harmless over-the-counter or herbal remedy that has been administered. The only complementary therapies that are safe in overdose are those that are homeopathic, with even these carrying the clinical hazard of under-treatment. 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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