Busting myths about herbal medicine

Plastic containers carrying herbal medicinal products. In Kenya, we still treat herbal products as alternative medicine. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • There are lots of herbal products in Kenya which have been made with the necessary precautions to ensure that they deliver clean, safe and pure products to the consumer.
  • However, there are those that have been contaminated with known conventional drugs in order to ensure that the product gives the desired result.
  • Common combinations include addition of steroids to herbal mixtures to produce weight gain (this helps the patient think they are getting better) and the use of sildenafil (the active component of Viagra) in performance enhancement herbal formulations. Such combinations can be lethal.

In this day and age, we find ourselves with lots of options when dealing with our health problems. From conventional medicine to the naturalistic options such as herbal therapy, aromatherapy, acupuncture and reflexology, the options are limitless.

Herbal medicine has been with us for centuries. The Chinese use herbal medicine as one of their main stream ways of therapy.

In Kenya, we still treat herbal products as alternative medicine. There is evidence that herbal medicine works (otherwise, our ancestors would probably have been wiped out by disease many years ago).

However, there are lots of concerns about this kind of therapy in Kenya most of which are related to its effectiveness and where it fits in today’s healthcare system.

Myth: Conventional medicines and herbal medicines have no similarities

A large number of conventional medicines have a plant-based active ingredient. This means that the component of the drug that treats you was originally extracted from a plant before it was processed.

Drug companies usually find whatever chemical is useful in that plant then make a synthetic form of the same thing. They then add various things to stabilise this chemical and optimise its ability to work. They then put it through vigorous tests to find out which doses are safe and their possible side-effects.

Finally, they add preservatives and flavour to it before it can be marketed. Popular drugs with plant origins include aspirin and even some cancer drugs. Herbal medicines are all plant-based.

Myth: Herbal medicines can safely be used with conventional medicines

It is not unusual to have someone come in complaining that the medication they picked up from the hospital is no longer working (despite taking the right dosages). When you inquire further, you find that they are taking both conventional and herbal medication in the hope of optimising their therapy.

You should never mix conventional medication with herbal ones without consulting your doctor. Herbal health products or supplements can affect the way the body processes conventional drugs. When this happens, your medicine may not work the way it should.

Some of these herbal drugs interact with the conventional drugs and the combination can be toxic. Patients have been known to go to hospital with either kidney or liver failure because of mixing the two.

Myth: Herbal medicines are ‘chemical free’

The only way a drug can act (whether herbal or conventional) is if it has an active component (chemical). The only difference is that the chemical component in conventional drugs is often synthetic whereas the herbal products are taken in their more natural form.

Ideally, herbal products should not contain artificial preservatives and flavours. Some, however, are mixed with other herbs which are thought to act as natural preservatives.

Myth: Herbal medicines do not have side-effects

There is a common misconception that since herbal medicines are ‘natural’, they are all safe. The truth is that all medicines (whether conventional or herbal) have some side-effects.

For example, paracetamol has the potential for causing liver failure. It is, however, considered safe enough to be sold in your local supermarket. Similarly, ginseng can cause intestinal discomfort and increase blood pressure. The only thing is that, like all side-effects, it does not happen to everyone.

Myth: Certain herbal medicines provide broad cover (can treat all ailments)

There is no medication that can treat all ailments. However, there are some herbal health care providers (especially here in Kenya) who claim that a particular drug of theirs can cure anything. This is, unfortunately, not true.

Myth: Herbal medicines can safely be taken before surgery

Herbal products can cause problems with surgery, including bleeding and problems with anaesthesia. Inform your surgeon about any herbal products you may be using. If you are going for planned surgery, stop using herbal products at least 2 weeks before surgery, or sooner if your doctor recommends it.

Myth: Herbal medication is prescribed by quacks

There are structured university and higher level programmes in Europe, America and Asia (notably China and India) that are dedicated to alternative health solutions. There are people who are thus trained in these fields and are licensed to offer this treatment.

In Kenya, we currently do not have such programmes (we do, however, have university courses in plant sciences/botany). This has, unfortunately, led to the invasion of our herbal sector by non-professionals who cannot even spell the name of the disease they claim to cure.

Myth: Herbal medication can be safely taken with alcohol

A large number of herbal drugs cannot be mixed with alcohol. Some, for example, kava products increase the effects of alcohol. Others can accelerate the kind of organ damage excessive alcohol can do (a feature also seen with some conventional drugs).

Challenge: Herbal medicines are not regulated in Kenya

There is no doubt that herbal medicines have their role in our health care system. The problem is that they are not regulated.

With conventional drugs, the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board is expected to check on every aspect of the drug (what exactly it treats, how well it works, side- effects and who can safely use it). The same rigorous checks are not carried out on our herbal drugs.

Challenge: Too little research is being done on herbal medicines in Kenya (and Africa)

The field of herbal medicine in Kenya is a wealth of resource waiting to be mined. There are numerous possibilities for cures lying in the various herbs. Unfortunately, very little resources are being put into research on developing this sector.

This article was first published in the Business Daily