Saturday, February 23, 2008

Herbs with Medicine: Making It Complementary

Herbs work differently than medications. Sometimes herbs have a cleansing or a detoxifying effect (detoxing means to remove toxins from the body). Toxins can be construed as anything toxic, poisonous, or of no positive value to the body.

By strengthening you, herbs can make your body more effective at eliminating foreign substances from your system. Some medications have byproducts that are unnatural to the body (synthetic materials), so the cleansing herbs may lessen the effect of your medications by pushing out these foreign substances.

Conversely, some herbal properties have the same effects as medications and can actually enhance the effects of each other. This can also be a cause for caution. Make sure your prescribing doctor monitors your prescription dosages if taking herbs and medications together. It is always wise to let both your prescribing doctor and your herbalist know any and all supplements and medications you are taking to avoid unpleasant interactions.

I have found that many of my clients who have been on medications when starting on an herbal program have been able to cut back or even eliminate their medication. This has happened with synthetic thyroid medications, insulin, and even antidepressants. However, do not attempt this yourself—supervision by a competent physician is important when working with herbs and medications together. It’s exciting to see how herbs can strengthen the body and lessen the need for drugs. The body is truly a sufficient manufacturing plant, which requires the correct raw materials to keep it running smoothly.

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