Herbal supplements are regarded differently by various segments of the population. While some think that herbs offer many advantages over more modern approaches to illness, others think that the use of herbs should be relegated to the pages of history. Those in that latter camp believe that modern pharmaceuticals have made the need for herbs nonexistent. In reality, many of our modern medicines are derived from herbs. Aspirin, for example, was originally derived from the bark of the willow tree and digitalis was produced from the foxglove plant. Quinine is another important medicine that was initially derived from a plant. While many of these medicines are now synthetically produced, they had their origins in herbs!
Herbal supplements continue to be used today for a wide variety of reasons. The most important of these reasons, of course, is that they work. As would be expected, the precise mechanisms through which herbal supplements work is dependent on the particular herb in question. So too is the degree to which they work. Also important is the individual being treated. Both the severity of the illness and the mindset of the individual can impact the efficacy of herbal supplements. The person that believes in an herb’s value is much more likely to receive benefit from using that herb as a supplement. The nonbeliever, in contrast, is much less likely to benefit from the same supplement.
To examine the specifics of how and why herbal supplements work we must narrow our focus to a specific herb. Feverfew is an example of an herb that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of problems. One of its uses is in the treatment of migraines. Many that have used feverfew for migraines hail it as one of the miracles of the plant world. It has been demonstrated that feverfew works by inhibiting prostaglandin. For some, however, feverfew has been entirely ineffective in treating migraines. It is unlikely that feverfew does not have the same physiological action of suppressing prostaglandin in these individuals as well. Something, however, is obviously causing the difference in effect. It could indeed be a difference in the individuals’ mental receptivity to herbs. It could also be, however, that the migraines of those for whom feverfew works are milder and related to different physiological processes. A final possibility is that those individuals for whom feverfew does not work are taking other medications or supplements that interfere with the feverfew.
Herbal supplements are obviously not for everyone. It is easy to forget the fact that herbs are sometimes potent medicinals and should be treated as such. Never take an herb without the full knowledge of your doctor and pharmacist. Always consider the way the herb's actions might influence the actions of other drugs that you are taking. Feverfew’s known inhibition of platelet activity, for example, would not be a good quality for individuals who were on anticoagulants. Side effects are important considerations as well. It is not unusual for herbal supplements to cause nervousness, tension, headaches, insomnia, stiffness, joint pain, tiredness or a myriad of other problems. While herbs can most definitely work, therefore, there are many considerations to make when deciding to use them.
