What a 'natural treatment' is and how it compares to medicine
Alternative medicine practitioners may promote their therapies, for instance herbology, naturopathy, or homeopathy, as being 'natural'. This normally derives from cruder manufacturing processes, for instance mixing herbs into a tincture instead of extracting their active chemicals and manufacturing them as pills.
Warning: You should never use alternative therapies as a substitute for real medical treatment.
Many alternative therapies are benign, which means they have no plausible effect on the body except that of placebo.
Some, like herbology, can have real effects, but are generally cruder and less-researched than conventional medicine. Many of the active chemicals in herbs are extracted and produced at more predictable doses in pharmaceuticals, and then thoroughly tested for safety.
Learn more about chemicals in herbs
Other alternative therapies can be dangerous, such as acupuncture or chiropractic, if performed incorrectly. It is recommended you speak with your doctor before engaging in any alternative or natural treatment.
Herbal remedies are not a substitute for conventional medical treatment.
Some herbs can interact with medications or cause side effects.
