Herbal remedies.
The term "herbal remedy" refers to folk and traditional medicinal  practice based on the use of plants and vegetal extracts. The use of herbal remedies is also known as herbalism or phytotherapy.
The use of herbs to treat diseases has been universal among native people over the centuries. As a matter of fact, botanical sources have been used almost exclusively for therapeutical preparations against any illness.
A number of traditions have come to dominate the practice of herbal medicine in the West at the end of the twentieth century. The most important of them are the European, based on Greek, Egyptian and Roman sources, the Ayurvedic from India and the Chinese herbal medicines.
Many of the pharmaceuticals, including opium, digitalis and quinine, currently available to Western physicians have a long history of use as herbal remedies.
It is well acknowledged that the foundation of the contemporary medicine industry is the accumulated experience and knowledge about natural
compounds
and preparations. Even nowadays, more than 50% of the drastic ingredients contained in medicines are of plant origin.
Medical interaction of herbal remedies.
A common misconception about herbalism and the use of herbal products in general, is that natural means are always safe. Nature, however, is not necessarily benign and many plants have chemical defense mechanisms against predators that can have adverse effects on humans. It is often advised that people wishing to use herbal remedies to consult with a physician first. This is recommended in terms of safety, since herbal extracts can boost or counteract the action of a prescribed medicine, when the two are used in combination. Herbal remedies can also interfere with the absorption of nutrients or drugs. They may cause adverse effects, when used with carelessness combined with over-the-counter pharmaceuticals. However, the problem is that most physicians are preoccupied or have no knowledge about herbal medicine, so may not be the best sources of information. In such a case, perhaps a second advice is useful.
Herbal remedies and food supplements.
On our website, when we refer to products containing natural substances, we classify them in two categories; the herbal remedies and the food supplements. The former group of these products
applies
mainly to treatment and the later one to prevention. Of course, some products could be included in both categories, according to their properties. In many cases and contrary to herbal remedies, food supplements may contain synthetic substances which have similar or identical properties to their natural counterparts.
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