Written by:
Charles W. Fetrow, Pharm.D. , Juan R. Avila, Pharm.D.
The herbs below have been misrepresented as cures for serious illnesses.
Mistletoe has been falsely touted as a cure for cancer.
Pau d'Arco tea has been falsely touted as a cure for cancer and AIDS.
Some herbs and plants have value not just for their active ingredients but for other substances they contain, such as:
- minerals
- vitamins
- volatile oils (used in aromatherapy)
- glycosides (sugar derivatives)
- allkaloids (bitter organic bases containing nitrogen)
- bioflavonoids (colorless substances that help maintain collagen and blood vessels).
In the United States, many traditional health care providers lack knowledge about herbal remedies, and their patients may be reluctant to reveal their use of such remedies. But renewed interest in all forms of alternative medicine has led consumers, health care providers, and drug researchers to reexamine herbal remedies. Medicinal herbs have been touted in magazines, books, and television shows, sometimes with advocates making amazing claims for their benefits.
Unfortunately, herbs don't have magical or mystical properties. Like all drugs, they must be taken in the right doses for the right length of time-and for the right purpose — to produce a benefit. While some herbs are safe and effective, others can cause lasting harm and even death. (See Potentially dangerous herbs.)
Still other herbs are neither harmful nor effective.
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