Botanical Medicine in Naturopathic Practice: What Is Offered and How to Check It

This page is information only and gives no doses or treatment plans. In the US, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 if someone may have swallowed too much of a product, and 911 for trouble breathing, collapse or a severe allergic reaction. See poisoning: what to do first. Talk with a doctor or pharmacist before using herbs if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, give them to a child, have kidney or liver problems, are older, are having surgery, or take several medicines, especially blood thinners.

What it is

An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor or therapeutic properties. MedlinePlus says herbal medicines are one type of dietary supplement, sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants. [1] NCCIH lists herbs and other dietary supplements among the approaches naturopathic practitioners use. [2] "Botanical medicine" is the usual naturopathic term. Traditional uses are described in the traditions' own terms in our Western herbal traditions guide and Chinese herbal medicine guide.

What the evidence covers

Evidence belongs to a specific herb, preparation, condition and comparison, not to "botanical medicine" in general. Some herbs have trials; many do not. For individual herbs, see herbs by wellness goal and herb research and evidence. Traditional use alone is a different thing from trial evidence, and a practitioner's own mixtures are not covered by a trial of a single herb.

Product quality

A DNA barcoding study of 44 herbal products from 12 companies in North America found that 59 percent contained plant species not listed on the label. [5] That study tested products on the shelf, not those dispensed by a particular practice, and it was published in 2014, so it shows that quality can be a problem, not how common it is today. The FDA says it has limited resources to analyze the composition of supplements. [6] See product quality and contamination.

Who prescribes herbs

NCCIH describes licensed naturopathic physicians, who attend accredited graduate programs, and traditional naturopaths, who may train through non-accredited programs and are not eligible for licensing. [2] What botanical training each group receives is not described in the sources we read. In England, the NHS says herbal medicine practitioners do not need to be registered by law, and suggests checking registration with a professional body accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. [4] See how to verify a credential.

Questions to ask

• What is the product, and what is the herb's full name and part used?
• Who made it, and has it been checked for what is on the label?
• Is it safe with my medicines? Please also ask a pharmacist. [4]
• What happens if I stop, and when should I call a doctor?
• Do you sell it, and do you earn from the sale? See costs and supplement sales.