Though the world somewhat has started to blindly believe in the safety and miraculous healing powers of any and everything is labeled ‘herbal’ or ‘natural’, we need to know what we are using or consuming more thoroughly, so that we can be assured of purity of what we buy. The truth of the matter is that there are several unscrupulous marketers of ‘herbal’ brands who are taking full advantage of this current rage and cashing on customer ignorance.

Here are some ways many of us are being taken for a ride:

•    All that is pure and natural: Reality check says something different. When some of the herbs are rare or prohibitively expensive, there are manufacturers who do not bat an eyelid to mix chemical substitutes to the brands. Become knowledgeable that all ‘herbal’ and natural products may not contain the right herbal ingredients.
•    Expect side effects even from herbal supplements: It is a myth that all herbal products are free of side effects. In case someone is using two herbal products, with two different sets of ingredients, they are likely to interact and cause adverse effects. Then there are some herbal products, which use mercury sulfide as one of the ingredients, a harmful chemical capable of damaging nerves and kidney. Many cheap antibiotics are known to contain this ingredient.
•    There is nothing called overdose in herbal products as they are completely safe: Like some believe that you can never have too much of vitamins as nothing untoward can be expected from an overdose of vitamins. So is the case with herbal medicines as they are considered to be completely safe. You are dangerously wrong in your judgment. Like too much of a good thing could be bad, overdose of herbal medication could also spell sickness and can be fatal. It all depends on what the herbs are, how they are chosen, purified and the level of quality checks that the product has gone through. Traditional ways of making herbal medicines is still the best, but how many commercial companies adhere to them?
•    China is not the only genuine source for procuring herbs: With a bit of research and some amount of gardening skills, you could also grow many of the beneficial herbs in your own garden. It is also a fact, that there are several other countries in the world, which produce herbs, which are equally effective and genuine.
•    There is no single all-purpose herb: many believe that all herbs are more or less the same and have similar medicinal properties. This is wrong. Every herb has individual chemical structures and compositions with different modes of action. Interestingly, all herbs, no matter how safe they are, may not suit