Here's the deal, if you're taking things on the side, tell your doctor. Even if your doctor's going to give you shit about it, trust me it's better than getting a side effect later.
For example, St John's Wort can't be taken with HIV medication or immunosuppressant that people take after organ transplant, it has caused many to lose their organs. It's metabolized by CYP3A4, which metabolizes almost every drug on the planet, meaning if you take it with St John's Wort, you're going to change the doses of your other medication, ending up with either undermedication (no treatment for your condition) or overmedication (side effects/toxicity). This goes for a lot of alternative medicine and drugs in general, except people often don't tell their doctors that they're taking herbs on the side, which is a big problem. (This is discounting the fact that many pharmacists and doctors don't even know enough about drug drug interactions to warn their patients when they are informed).
That said, some herbs have efficacy, some don't. That's all there is to it. If you want to use one you want to do real research on it, by that I mean looking at actual data, actual methodology, actual doses tested, etc. etc. If you take one that doesn't have efficacy instead of taking a real drug then you're not getting any treatment. You may think you are, but that's the reality and if you're willing to go along with just having the "feeling" of being treated that's your choice. I just hate people who sell these crap claiming they're miracle cures, because it does cost people their lives when it's something like cancer. Which is where a lot of people start looking for alternatives.
As for pain medication, most of them suck. I understand going after alternatives, but don't do it because you want to believe in it or because you think it's so much better than conventional medication that makes you feel like shit. Compared to conventional drugs, alternative/natural health products' are way better at hiding their side effects, you know what I mean if you've tried to look for side effects on one of their bottles. So be informed and always tell your doctor/pharmacist.
For example, St John's Wort can't be taken with HIV medication or immunosuppressant that people take after organ transplant, it has caused many to lose their organs. It's metabolized by CYP3A4, which metabolizes almost every drug on the planet, meaning if you take it with St John's Wort, you're going to change the doses of your other medication, ending up with either undermedication (no treatment for your condition) or overmedication (side effects/toxicity). This goes for a lot of alternative medicine and drugs in general, except people often don't tell their doctors that they're taking herbs on the side, which is a big problem. (This is discounting the fact that many pharmacists and doctors don't even know enough about drug drug interactions to warn their patients when they are informed).
That said, some herbs have efficacy, some don't. That's all there is to it. If you want to use one you want to do real research on it, by that I mean looking at actual data, actual methodology, actual doses tested, etc. etc. If you take one that doesn't have efficacy instead of taking a real drug then you're not getting any treatment. You may think you are, but that's the reality and if you're willing to go along with just having the "feeling" of being treated that's your choice. I just hate people who sell these crap claiming they're miracle cures, because it does cost people their lives when it's something like cancer. Which is where a lot of people start looking for alternatives.
As for pain medication, most of them suck. I understand going after alternatives, but don't do it because you want to believe in it or because you think it's so much better than conventional medication that makes you feel like shit. Compared to conventional drugs, alternative/natural health products' are way better at hiding their side effects, you know what I mean if you've tried to look for side effects on one of their bottles. So be informed and always tell your doctor/pharmacist.
