Herbal Medicine How it can help you
By Tim Michael from Herbal Concepts

Herbal Concepts is one of the UKís leading licensed herbal medicines companies, offering a range of prepared medicines for common ailments such as allergies, digestive disorders, gynaecological problems, mental fatigue, pain relief and a weight loss aid.

Here, we take a look at how herbal medicines can be an effective complementary therapy to conventional medicines.

Herbs have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years and in many countries are still used in mainstream medicine. However with the development of new drugs over the last century, herbal medicines were mostly disregarded by the health profession, despite many of the new manufactured drugs being based on ingredients originally synthesised from plants.

Today, though more and more people are looking for safe, effective alternatives to chemical based drugs and plant-based medicines are proving increasingly popular. But in order to ensure you get the maximum benefit from any herbal medicine you take, it is worth knowing a little about them and following some simple rules.

Herbal medicines can be use to treat a wide range of common health problems. They can also be used as a preventative measure against catching infections such as coughs and colds. Taken regularly some herbal medicines can help maintain bodily functions which are subject to recurring imbalances such as digestion or menstruation.

Herbal medicines have a gentle, cumulative effect so they have no side effects for most people. However like all medicines dosage instructions should be followed and you should consult your doctor before taking them if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or regularly taking other prescribed medicines.

Look for Licensed
The key issue when choosing a herbal medicine is that it should be a licensed herbal medicine and not just a herbal or ënaturalí remedy. Licensed herbal medicines are regulated by the Department of Health and the Medicines Control Agency and have been proven to have a medically-recognised effect on the condition they are designed to treat. Their production also has to meet designated quality control standards.

You can identify licensed herbal medicines by the PL number carried on the label - this ensures its efficacy and safety. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist to tell you which herbal medicines are licensed.

If you are regularly taking other medication, are pregnant or suffering from a debilitating condition, consult your doctor before taking any other medication including herbal medicines

If in doubt, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal medicine.