The use of medicinal plants is increasingly widespread in society. They are used seemingly for anything: from weight loss, to sleep, to stress management.
In short, to feel better. But we must always ask ourselves the following question: Is natural always safe? Today’s video will try to answer this question.
Medicinal plants are an important therapeutic arsenal that nature offers us. They have been the first medicines of Humanity and have served as a model for the subsequent development of most industrial medicines.
They are generally safe and are widely used to treat mild ailments but, since they are products that have a clear pharmacological activity, it is essential to take into account that they do not interact with other drugs that we are taking or that they may be counterproductive for other diseases that we suffer.
People who take anticoagulant drugs, for example, have to be especially careful since they are using very complicated treatments that interact with a multitude of medicinal plants, such as green anise, common chamomile. People with high blood pressure may need to be careful about using licorice as it tends to raise it.
People with thyroid problems should also be especially careful, for example, with seaweed-based preparations, as they can provide an extra amount of iodine that can affect their pathology.
Pregnant and lactating women should also be especially careful not to take any medicinal plant without first consulting their doctor or pharmacist; this is the case of the use of aloe vera to treat constipation in pregnant women (it is a laxative of the so-called irritants that can cause contractions, so it should not be used).
These are just some examples, but the recommendation we give you is the convenience of always asking a healthcare professional about whether a certain product can be used together with the specific medication and diseases of each person.
So, the morale of the story is: do not try medicinal plants without researching them first and preferably only after going to your registered herbalist for advice and choose the most appropriate for you.