Growing healthier

HERBAL remedies have been around as long as there have been people to try them. Like anything else, they go in and out of fashion. The boom in sales of herbal infusions seems to indicate that they are the latest fad as more women aim for a healthier lifestyle.

But while this may be good news for health store owners, questions are now being asked about how safe the preparations we buy are.

In the last few years, experts have been becoming increasingly sceptical about the benefits. Now, studies by the consumer magazine Which? Health, have shown that certain herbal supplements could be more harmful than previously thought.

As so often, it comes down to knowing what to take, when, and how much.

Raspberry leaf tea, recommended for pregnant women, is often used as a uterine stimulant and a cleansing diuretic. But although pregnant women drink it without a second thought, complementary medicine expert Professor Edzard Ernst of Exeter University warns expectant mothers against taking high doses in the early stages of pregnancy as it can stimulate the uterus, with the possible risk of harming the baby.

"There is insufficient convincing evidence to confirm that raspberry leaf tea doesn't affect the baby so, until more research is done, women should be wary of drinking too much," he said.

It's not only raspberry leaf tea, either. St John's Wort is traditionally used as an anti-depressant - but people need to be aware of its adverse effects when taken with other medicines. It can react badly with some other anti-depressants, anti-HIV drugs, blood-thinning medicines, oral contraceptives, treatments for migraine and asthma and drugs that suppress the immune system.

There have been various scare stories about Chinese herbal formulations. The Which? Health team uncovered several traditional medicines containing steroids. The possible side effects of these, when used externally on the skin, can include bruising and thinning of the skin. If absorbed into the skin, they can also make a person more vulnerable to infections.

Many of the popular herbal remedies found in stores around the country could also have possible side effects. Herbs like camomile, used for digestive weakness and stress have possible allergic reactions. And dandelion, which is frequently used to reduce water retention, could also induce possible allergic reactions, and should not be taken if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Other herbs may have the potential to interact with conventional medicines. Garlic, used to lower cholesterol, is thought to increase the effects of blood-thinning drugs including heparin, warfarin and coumarin - and so should not be taken at the same time as them.

One of the problems facing those keen to adopt a healthy lifestyle by taking herbal medicines and nutritional supplements is the sheer range and variety on offer.

So how do you know what is right for you - and how much should you take?

York-based medical herbalist Morag Weatherstone, a member of the National Institute Of Medical Herbalists, says moderation and common sense is the key.

She has been a herbalist for nearly twenty years, and is a strong believer in the healing powers of many everyday plants.

But she admits she does have concerns about our increasing obsession with dosing ourselves with vast quantities of remedies and supplements bought off the shelves in a supermarket or health store - particularly as many tablet remedies contain high doses.

Too many people are trying to bypass mainstream medical services and trained complementary practitioners by treating themselves, she says.

"It is absurd. I see people taking up to 15 different items a day, and your system has got to deal with that - a system that may already be struggling. People are taking far too much, and they really have no idea what they are doing. It's not a very good analogy, but it's a bit like putting four-star petrol into a car which really needs a service, and which normally takes two-star. It can be far too much for your system to cope with."

One of the problems, Morag says, is that people often expect instant results - and when they don't get them, take more of the same remedy or something else as well.

But mixing remedies is not a good idea. Morag's is to try a single product - preferably one you recognise and know a little about. But if it doesn't work, don't up the dose or switch to something else. "If there is no benefit, then you might consider having a consultation with somebody who is trained."

Herbal remedy advice:

- Popping tablets is no substitute for a healthy diet, exercise and fresh air

- Always tell your GP

- Always be careful not to take too high a dosage

- Do not mix remedies

- Do not expect immediate results

- If a remedy doesn't help, seek expert advice

- The National Institute of Medical Herbalists lists all qualified herbalists. To find those in your area, check out their website on www.nimh.org.uk or call on 01392 426022.