Herbal Medicine

An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicine products are dietary supplements that people take to improve their health. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking.

To use an herbal product as safely as possible

* Consult your doctor first
* Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends
* Take it under the guidance of a trained medical professional
* Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or nursing

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Start Here

* Botanical Dietary Supplements: Background InformationFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements)
* Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, TooFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)

Also available in Spanish

Basics Learn More Multimedia & Cool Tools

* Overviews
* Latest News



* Specific Conditions
* Related Issues



* Pictures & Photographs

Research Reference Shelf For You

* Research
* Journal Articles



* Organizations



* Women

* Overviews
o About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products(Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)
o Dietary Supplements Labels DatabaseFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Library of Medicine)
o Herbal Products and Supplements: What You Should Know(American Academy of Family Physicians)

Also available in Spanish

o MedlinePlus: Herbs and Supplements(Natural Standard)

Also available in Spanish

* Latest News
o Ginkgo No Shield Against Alzheimer's(11/18/2008, HealthDay)
o Indigo Ointment Benefits Psoriasis Patients(11/18/2008, HealthDay)
o Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory (GEM) Study Fails To Show Benefit in Preventing Dementia in the ElderlyFrom the National Institutes of Health(11/18/2008, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Peppermint Oil, Fiber Can Fight Irritable Bowel(11/14/2008, HealthDay)
* Specific Conditions
o Aloe VeraFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Asian GinsengFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o AstragalusFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o BilberryFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Bitter OrangeFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Black CohoshFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Cat's ClawFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o ChamomileFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o ChasteberryFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o CranberryFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o DandelionFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o EchinaceaFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Echinacea: What Should I Know about It?(American Academy of Family Physicians)

Also available in Spanish

o EphedraFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o European ElderFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o European MistletoeFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Evening Primrose OilFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o FenugreekFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o FeverfewFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Flaxseed and Flaxseed OilFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o GarlicFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o GingerFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o GingkoFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o GoldensealFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Grape Seed ExtractFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Green TeaFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o HawthornFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o HoodiaFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Horse ChestnutFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o KavaFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o LavenderFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Licorice RootFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Milk ThistleFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o NoniFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Peppermint OilFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Red CloverFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Saw PalmettoFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o SoyFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o St. John's WortFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Thunder God VineFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o TurmericFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o ValerianFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o YohimbeFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
* Related Issues
o Herbal Supplements: How They Can Interfere with Surgery(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
o Questions and Answers about Valerian for Insomnia and Other Sleep DisordersFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements)
o St. John's Wort and DepressionFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Warnings and Safety Information(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition)
o What You Should Know about Herbal and Dietary Supplement Use and Anesthesia(American Society of Anesthesiologists) - Links to PDF
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* Pictures & Photographs
o Medicinal Herb GardenFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region)
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* Research
o Garlic Does Not Appear to Lower "Bad" CholesterolFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o St. John's Wort Does Not Help Kids with ADHD(Nemours Foundation)
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* Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
o Article: Kava hepatotoxicity: a European view.
o Article: Evaluation of Bensal HP for the treatment of diabetic foot...
o Article: Improved arthritic knee health in a pilot RCT of phytotherapy.
o Herbal Medicine -- see more articles
o Herb-drug interactions -- see more articles
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* Organizations
o Alternative Medicine Foundation
o National Center for Complementary and Alternative MedicineFrom the National Institutes of Health
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* Women
o Menopausal Symptoms and CAMFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
o Phytoestrogens and Bone HealthFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
o Questions and Answers about Black Cohosh and the Symptoms of MenopauseFrom the National Institutes of Health(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements)
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