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Summary
An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicines are one type of dietary supplement. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants. People use herbal medicines to try to maintain or improve their health.
Many people believe that products labeled "natural" are always safe and good for them. This is not necessarily true. Herbal medicines do not have to go through the testing that drugs do. Some herbs, such as comfrey and ephedra, can cause serious harm. Some herbs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines.
If you are thinking about using an herbal medicine, first get information on it from reliable sources. Make sure to tell your health care provider about any herbal medicines you are taking.
NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Related Issues
- Alerts and Advisories (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Herbal Supplements and Heart Medicines May Not Mix (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Natural Doesn't Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- St. John's Wort and Depression (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Specifics
- Acai (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Aloe Vera (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Asian Ginseng (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Astragalus (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Bilberry (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Bitter Orange (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Black Cohosh (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Butterbur (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Cat's Claw (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Chamomile (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Chasteberry (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Cinnamon (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Cranberry (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Dandelion (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Echinacea (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Echinacea: What Should I Know about It? (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Elderberry (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Ephedra (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- European Mistletoe (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Evening Primrose Oil (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Fenugreek (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Feverfew (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Garlic (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Ginger (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Ginkgo (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Goldenseal (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Grape Seed Extract (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Green Tea (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Hawthorn (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Hoodia (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Horse Chestnut (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Kava (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Lavender (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Licorice Root (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Milk Thistle (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Mugwort (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Noni (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Passionflower (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Peppermint Oil (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Red Clover (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Red Yeast Rice (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Sage (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Saw Palmetto (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Soy (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- St. John's Wort (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Tea Tree Oil (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Thunder God Vine (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Turmeric (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- Valerian (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
- What Are Chia Seeds? (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics)
- Yohimbe (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Herbal Medicine (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Whole Plant Extracts for Neurocognitive Disorders: A Narrative Review of Neuropsychological...
- Article: Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Dibatie district, Metekel zone, Benishangul...
- Article: Chios Mastic Gum: A Promising Phytotherapeutic for Cardiometabolic Health.
- Herbal Medicine -- see more articles
Find an Expert
Women
- Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth (National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health)
Patient Handouts
- A guide to herbal remedies (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish