Natural Herbs Information

Researchers at the University of Iowa found that, of the 18.9 percent of adults who use herbs, 57.3 percent use them for health reasons. Natural herbs can be incorporated safely in cooking or ingested orally for many reasons, when used with caution and knowledge of their effects.

Health Benefits

• Depending on the type of ailment you have or the herbs you can access, you can possibly alleviate nearly any ache or pain in your body. For example, you can try acai berry to increase energy levels or green tea to combat cancer. A study from the University of Florida found that these berries destroyed human cancer cells that were growing in a culture.

Dosage

• While natural herbs are beneficial to your overall health, you must take care when ingesting them. If you are an insulin-dependent diabetic that takes golden seal as a supplement, you can potentially harm yourself by ingesting too much of this natural insulin source. Black Cohosh, taken for menopause, can cause headaches when too much is ingested.

Times to Avoid Using Herbs

• A few instances call for extra care when taking natural herbs. For example, some doctors recommend avoiding rosemary during pregnancy, as it could affect your uterus. Another natural herb, St. John's Wort, is not recommended for those using prescription drugs for heart disease or depression.

FDA Warnings

• The Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the sale of most natural herbs. There are guidelines that a food or drug purveyor must follow in order to get FDA approval; many natural herb companies or purveyors do not undergo this rigorous process. If an herb or drug is not FDA approved, consult a physician before trying it.