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PHYTOMEDICINE

Herbal medicines are a legitimate approach to pharmaceutical care.  Herbals have been used by many cultures for much longer than "traditional" medicine to treat a variety of ailments.  Hopefully those who do not endorse herbal efficacy or embrace its inclusion in total patient care are now found few and far between.  There is a plethora of phytomedicinal reasearch, much coming from the German Commission E and other international resources, that supports the above noted conclusions.  This is not to say that herbals can be taken without caution just because they can be effective and are available without a prescription.  Herbals and other supplements are not subject to the same level of FDA scrutiny in regard to manufacturing quality assurance and strength consistency that their Western counterparts are.  Hence, one may experience a fair degree of variance with regard to potency and subsequent effects, good and bad, amongst herbal products.  For this reason, only reputable manufacturers and those whose production integrity can be verified should be suggested. 

The following profiles are intended as a brief introduction and starting point for some commonly used herbal medicines.  Herbal research is updated on a perpetual and global basis.  Consequently, this information may be outdated and/or currently inaccurate.  One should always consult multiple and more complete references (e.g. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database) and colleagues before deciding upon the efficacy, use, mechanism of action, dosage, drug interactions, health condition contraindications, and appropriateness of any herbal.  Phytomedicinal agents should be evaluated on an individual, patient-specific basis. 

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aloe_vera_systemic.pdf
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aloe_vera_topical.pdf
File Size: 458 kb
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astragalus.pdf
File Size: 194 kb
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bee_pollen.pdf
File Size: 291 kb
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bilberry_berry.pdf
File Size: 275 kb
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cascara_sagrada.pdf
File Size: 247 kb
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cats_claw.pdf
File Size: 258 kb
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cayenne.pdf
File Size: 248 kb
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chamomile.pdf
File Size: 265 kb
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cod_liver_oil.pdf
File Size: 266 kb
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cranberry.pdf
File Size: 452 kb
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dong_quai_root.pdf
File Size: 255 kb
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echinacea.pdf
File Size: 334 kb
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evening_primrose_oil.pdf
File Size: 298 kb
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feverfew.pdf
File Size: 261 kb
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flaxseed.pdf
File Size: 532 kb
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garlic.pdf
File Size: 630 kb
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ginger.pdf
File Size: 276 kb
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ginkgo.pdf
File Size: 538 kb
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ginseng.pdf
File Size: 464 kb
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goldenseal.pdf
File Size: 302 kb
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grape_seed.pdf
File Size: 287 kb
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green_tea.pdf
File Size: 302 kb
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hawthorn.pdf
File Size: 307 kb
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horse_chestnut.pdf
File Size: 358 kb
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kava_kava.pdf
File Size: 364 kb
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lecithin.pdf
File Size: 243 kb
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ma_huang.pdf
File Size: 303 kb
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psyllium.pdf
File Size: 310 kb
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saw_palmetto.pdf
File Size: 462 kb
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shark_cartilage.pdf
File Size: 404 kb
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st._johns_wort.pdf
File Size: 336 kb
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valerian_root.pdf
File Size: 232 kb
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yohimbe.pdf
File Size: 262 kb
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© Walter Gardipee 2012. All rights reserved. Readers should always seek advice from their healthcare provider or other professional before using medications.
Photo used under Creative Commons from zenera