THE HIDDEN RISKS OF HERBAL AND “NATURAL” CURES
ANTWI INNOCENT
(L26796942)
LIBERTY UNIVERSITY ONLINE
PRINCIPLES OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(201520 SPRING 2015 HLTH 505-B05 LUO)
7 March 2015
Abstract
Potential risks are inextricably intertwined with activities of human life. Such risks have to do with our choices of medication to cure diseases or control disease symptoms. This research seeks to identify and analyze the hidden risks associated with herbal medicine/remedies. I used relevant information from previous research analyzes. Numerous studies prove risks associated with the dosage and efficacy of herbal remedies, coupled with characteristic consumer risk factors such as age, genetics, and possible drug interaction with other medications. There is…show more content… Constipation, nausea, diarrhea, headache, vomiting among other sickness have attributed to the use of Saw palmetto. Impotency has also been identified as one of the risks associated with the taken of this medications. There has been reported cases involve the use of saw palmetto damaging either an individual pancreas and liver but hasn't been clinically proven. Herbal practitioners have reported that, saw palmetto is somewhat safe when directly applied to the rectum for maybe a month but still not clear about its long-term effects. They have, therefore, issue a warning to pregnant and lactating mothers not to uses this medication as its act like a hormone during that period. It also slows blood clotting, therefore not advisable for a patient that have had surgery to take them. Since it has not been under a thorough clinically test, the FDA issued a communicate in October 2010, informing them about the claims they are giving to the medication as compared to the results obtain from users of the