Yes, that's true. I know I see St. John's wart mentioned a lot with interactions. I've never taken it but think it's used for depression but that one has lots of warnings. Also even spices like cinnamon in large amounts can be harmful. Teens were doing the cinnamon challenge. Don't remember the details but I think they would eat a spoonful for either getting high or something but there were a few deaths. I'll have to look up the reason why they were doing it because I could be wrong but teens usually do these things to get high.
Herbs are nature’s drugs and of course the pharmaceutical will warn you, If you mix something natural with petroleum based drugs that the natural is the dangerous one? Minerals, vitamins, omega acids, and amino acids are essential nourishment which if it is not in your food r you cannot absorb it you might need to supplement. Unless the doctor is knowledgeable on nutrition he can miss read blood test for example if you had high calcium in your blood ignorant doctor would tell you to cut down on calcium which is exactly the wrong thing. You need more calcium because the calcium in your blood was taken out of your bones and teeth and not from your diet. To know if you are deficient in minerals best test are hair analyst and not blood tests.
Even I know that high calcium in your blood doesn't mean to cut back on calcium. Drs really aren't as stupid as you make out, Martin. I really don't know what kind of drs you're around but that calcium statement is hard to believe. I'm not a dr and know that. I'm confident that what my dr told me about being low on D is accurate. There is a specific test just for D. Yes, it's common knowledge if you aren't getting enough vitamins and minerals from your food, you need to take vitamins. I don't understand your first sentence...
PS on the top... if you were talking about herbals in general and not melatonin specifically, Martin, just toss my reply.. I may have misunderstood to what you were referring. ======== Maybe so, Martin, but doggone, if I see on WebMD, hear from a Mayo Clinic doc, and see numerous other warnings for something that's either given by prescription or BANNED everywhere except the US and Canada, I'm sure as heck not going to stick it into my body. It can raise blood pressure, blood sugar, cause heart problems, and several other issues a lot more serious than not being able to sleep. It can't be disputed, it's fact. Oh, and the doc I spoke with is an expert in nutrition and has a professorship in it, you betcha.
Mari if you read I said that herbs are natures drugs that means they are drugs. If you check the track record of natural drugs and pharmaceutical drug there is no comparison for safety. Can herb be dangerous of course and should be treated so These were on WebMD or other medical sites as drug of choice Accutane on the market 27 years before they realized it was dangerous. Baycol on the market 3 years before they realized it was dangerous Bextra on the market 3.3 years before they realized it was dangerous Cylert on the market 30 years before they realized it was dangerous Darvon & Darvocet on the market 55 years before they realized it was dangerous. DBI [phenformin] on the market 19 years before they realized it was dangerous DES [Diethylstibestrol] on the market 31 years before they realized it was dangerous Ergamisol on the market 11 years before they realized it was dangerous Hismanal on the market 11 years before they realized it was dangerous Meridia on the market 13 years before they realized it was dangerous Mylotarg on the market 10 years before they realized it was dangerous Permax on the market 19 years before they realized it was dangerous Pondimin on the market 24 years before they realized it was dangerous PTZ & Metrazol on the market 48 years before they realized it was dangerous Quaalude on the market 23 years before they realized it was dangerous Seldane on the market 13 years before they realized it was dangerous Trasylol on the market 48 years before they realized it was dangerous Vioxx [Rofecoxib] on the market 5.3 years before they realized it was dangerous This drug alone killed or injured ¼ million people.
I also think that most of them, maybe 99% or more of those supplements being sold on the herbal kiosk are mere placebo. The label says it all - no approved therapeutic claim. That label is from the Food and Drug agency, the body that is supposed to be regulating the sales of food and drug hence I wonder why the commercials of those food supplements seem to be treatment? I have posted this already but let me just repeat. There is a tv commercial about an herbal supplement of bitter gourd (I forgot the exact name) that it can control diabetes. And the endorser was the popular singer named Gary V. Well, the singer's doctor is also the doctor of my niece. Dr. Fernando reprimanded Gary V for appearing in that commercial which is not true at all. The singer hastily cancelled his participation in that tv commercial. It is like saying that the bitter gourd supplement is not true to its claim about diabetes.
@Martin Alonzo , yes I'm not disputing there have been drugs that were recalled and although that looks like a lot but compared to how many drugs there are that's a very small list. Some were recalled in the the late 90's. I'm sure people who had family die aren't happy but it doesn't mean all drugs are bad and in some you have to weigh the benefits VS the side effects. That's up to you. No dr forces you take take something if you say the side effects are too bad. Maybe a vitamin or herbal supplement won't kill you but it also won't cure you or take away the pain or whatever the problem is. We are free to choose how we want to live and be treated for whatever we have. I know if I have cancer I'm going the traditional route but that's my choice.
Vitamins don't cure? Vitamin C cures scury Vitamin B1 cures Beri Beri Vitamin B3 cures Pellagra. Vitamin B 12 cures some types of dementia. Vitamin D will cure Rickets I won't bother listing the minerals.
Most people get enough in their diets why waste money buying it if you don't need it. Haven't heard of some of those diseases in ages. They are needed if you are deficient. I don't have any of those diseases. I already told you I take D because I'm deficient in it. There's nothing wrong in taking vitamins if you need them.
@Patsy Faye Absolutely! Having had a bladder infection several times within about 6 months, I started taking Cranberry gel capsules. I believe it has been beneficial beyond doubt. No bladder infection in well over a year. I think the Cranberry has helped with function as well. (I hate to be specific, under these conditions, but...) Ten years ago, having difficulty urinating, still living on the farm in Missouri, a fact pertinent because I had choice of only one doctor, he said my Prostate gland was 50 to 75% larger than normal. He prescribed Flomax, which did seem to help, but still not normal. After a bout while on vacation of not being able to pee a single drop, my wife ran me over to the ER. Came back home with a catheter & bag strapped to my leg. Hated it. ER had told me have my doctor remove it after 10 days. I hemmed and hawed, took the danged thing out myself after 2 weeks. The difficulty urinating was gone! That was 5 years ago, and I am still able to "go" as normally as when I was young. I know BPH (Prostate enlargement) does not go away. My doctor shrugged when asked to explain this. I am happy with the situation! Frank
@Frank Sanoica - great outcome for you Frank - Its good to hear Doctors don't promote supplements as they make their money from the drug prescriptions I don't doubt that some supplements work and like everything, not all will agree with us To find something that is suitable and works is a real bonus
Glad to hear that the cranberry helped you so well, @Frank Sanoica ! I absolutely believe that there's benefit in vitamins, minerals, and supplements, especially things like this. My issue (and always has been) is with herbals and the side effects that are very real like raising blood pressure, messing with blood sugar, heart issues, etc. I'm not sure why they're not regulated here, but some of them are even banned in most of the civilized world. I've found that no matter what it is, some quack somewhere is going to promote it and make it sound good. Herbals, though, not things like this. But anyhow, cranberry, absolutely. I wish I'd known there were pills years ago when I needed it.... I suffered through the unsweetened cranberry juice.... talk about a lip-puckerer. hehe Puckerer... I made a new word! No, scratch that.... I just went to confirm and according to The Free Dictionary, a puckerer is one who puckers. Well duh! hehe Have a great Tuesday, Frank and all!