Dietary Supplements-botanicals

What is a botanical? The study of plants is called botany, so a
botanical is a plant, or part thereof, that is valued for its
medicinal or therapeutic properties Some people groups have
used these botanical – or herbal – supplements for thousands of
years to alleviate some conditions However, even though they
are gaining in popularity, many professional health carers in
the western world still doubt their usefulness
The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (1994) has ruled
that before a botanical can be classified as a dietary
supplement, it must
· Be intended to supplement the diet · Contain one or more
dietary ingredient like vitamins, or their constituents · Be
intended for use in oral form such as tablets, capsules liquid
or powder · Be labelled on the front that it is intended as a
dietary supplement
Many herbal remedies meet these criteria They are also packaged
and sold as teas and infusions, tinctures and extracts, and are
becoming increasingly popular in western countries, being used
to relieve mild conditions instead of what is seen as the
harsher chemical alternative
For instance, ginger in various forms is used to combat travel
and morning sickness, because it does not make the consumer
drowsy and dry in the mouth as do some other over-the counter,
or even prescription, drugs It can be taken as a tea, a tablet
or in the form of a lolly (sweet) There are many herbal
products on the market, and some claim to help mental ability,
while others are said to increase strength or energy, help you
sleep, or cope with stress Most of them are quite expensive, so
make sure you really do need that product before you buy it
If you have a disease or are on medication of any kind and wish
to try an herbal remedy, it would be wise to consult a
knowledgeable health professional before doing so Some herbal
remedies have been shown to react adversely to chemical
substances
Many people accept herbal medications as safe because they are
‘natural’, but this is not necessarily so Many plants are
poisonous, or may have serious side effects or give allergic
reactions when taken by susceptible individuals One such case
is bee pollen Just as you can be allergic to bee stings without
knowing it (if you’ve never been stung) so an allergy to bee
pollen may also be present While many herbal concoctions can be
useful, you should always approach new herbal products with
caution It is better to be safe than sorry For more health
information on Conditions, Diseases and Supplements
see-http://wwwhealthybodysupplementscom

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