Al Rothstein, M. Ed., is a certified CAM consultant in the areas of homeopathy, aromatherapy, and acupressure. He is the owner and founder of CAM of Williamsburg and has lived in the Williamsburg area for 12 years. A retired music educator, he is now a certified herbal specialist through the American Botanical Council.

The Honest Truth About Herbs by Al Rothstein, M. Ed. Published: July 2006 For thousands of years, natural remedies have been used to treat everything from baldness to fatigue to hemorrhoids to impotence. The use of herbs is one natural approach to health and wellness, as are other modalities such as acupuncture, hypnosis, homeopathy, aromatherapy, massage therapy and chiropractic medicine. Today, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is the fastest growing segment of the healthcare industry. In 1995, the National Institutes of Health established a panel to describe and define complementary and alternative medicine. The panel defined it as “a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period.” Though CAM is gaining acceptance, some physicians don't include complementary therapies in their practice. CAM approaches aren’t always taught at medical schools, and they aren’t always implemented in hospitals. And despite a growing awareness of the benefits of CAM therapies, many insurance companies are still reluctant to reimburse for these services. A recent article in the Washington Post asserted: “Demand for natural medicines seems insatiable: Americans now spend an estimated $20 billion annually on herbal remedies for weight loss or to treat back pain, dementia or cancer. Because of growing demand, the number of herbal products has skyrocketed.” There are many excellent herbal products on the market today. Local retail stores and pharmacies carry a wide variety of herbal supplements. You can save money by ordering products online. Beware of discount brands that you are not familiar with or that have not been recommended by a professional. These can contain sub-standard products that have little or no value. Most major herbal remedy manufacturers have internal labs that continually check the efficacy of their products. But similar to pharmaceutical drugs, not everyone will reap the same benefits from an herbal product, nor will everyone see results. You’ll want to first consider many factors to get the most benefit from the herbal product you choose. Age, health, medical history, genetics, personality, lifestyle and diet are just some of the factors that will determine the type of herb that’s best for you as well as the proper dosage needed. Most importantly, you’ll want to make sure that the herb you intend to take won’t have adverse interactions with other medications you may currently take. Purchase your herbal products from a reputable source. A 400-milligram (mg) capsule of Echinacea, for example, may vary between manufacturers (there are several types of Echinacea, such as purpurea or angustifolia). The quality of a specific herb could affect the potency of the final product. A product may be derived from the whole herb or from a standardized extract, and it may contain additional ingredients that are unnecessary or unwanted. A qualified CAM practitioner can recommend specific types of herbs and quality sources for these supplements. Many people who take herbal supplements regard these products as safe because they are considered “natural” and don’t consider them to be medicines. But because they are often exempt from the scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many herbal products remain untested, their purity unknown, and their safety uncertain. Because the FDA classifies herbs as food products, labels can vary from brand to brand. Since there is little regulation of these product labels, there is no guarantee of truth. Always read the label and know the source of the herb, any added ingredients, the amount of the herb in each capsule, and the number of capsules per serving. For example, a label may say 400 mg per serving, but it may take four capsules to get that exact dosage. Some people make the mistake of relying on herbal products. While herbal supplements can contribute to healing, they have their limits. In general, if within two weeks of starting an herbal supplement regimen you see no results, you should consult a physician about your condition. Some conditions require a simple herbal remedy alone: aloe for minor burns, dill for infant colic, or clove oil for fast, temporary relief of a toothache. Others require medical attention or a combination of traditional and alternative therapies. You may wish to combine several approaches to achieve the best results. Anyone considering a complementary or alternative medicine regimen should first visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (www.nccam.nih.gov) sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Articles on specific herbs, advice on possible interactions with other medications and information about different CAM modalities are all available online. Whatever your expectations are, seek appropriate guidance and check with your primary healthcare provider before beginning any complementary or alternative medicine program. Your best possible health should be your first concern and that of your CAM practitioner as well.

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