Summary TOXIC EFFECTS AS A RESULT OF HERBAL MEDICINE INTAKE .

Herbal medicines are advertised to be free from side effects, which is a myth. A large number of people still rely on herbal medicines, and some people take herbal medicines along with routine allopathic medicines especially in cases of diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, etc., where the patient is on long-term or lifelong treatment. Many commercial websites are available on Internet, which insist that herbal medicines have no side effects. In underdeveloped and developing countries, there are no specific laws for herbal practitioners and companies marketing herbal products. People are attracted by such companies and start using herbal medicines pertaining to be free from side effects. In this chapter, we will discuss about possible toxicities of some herbal medicines and their remedies. 2 . Possible reasons for toxic effects of herbal medicines 2.1 . Self-treatment Herbal medicines are easily available in market and can be purchased without prescription. These products are advertised on media as a miracle treatment without any side effects to attract people that are fed up with side effects or lost hope for being cured. The patients who like to play safe game are attracted in a manner that they are allowed to continue their regular medicines along with herbal treatment. Even persons caring about their health start herbal treatment to remain healthy proving the proverb “Prevention is better than cure.” As a result, a large number of people are attracted towards herbal medicines and they start self-treatment [1]. 2.2 . Unqualified practitioners In a large part of the world, unqualified practitioners are prescribing alternative therapies to patients of various diseases, apart from some countries where laws and regulations for herbal practitioners exist and implemented. Medical practitioners are provided vast knowledge about human body, drugs, mechanism of action, pharmacology, case studies, and then allowed to practice. Nowadays, Alternative Medicine Degree Course is available in certain universities with highly qualified and experienced faculty, which is a good source of herbal practitioners, but still 50% of herbal practitioners in the world are unqualified who acquire this profession after their forefathers such as a son of a farmer becomes a farmer, or after reading some books about herbal medicine, conducting 6-month online course about herbal medicine, etc., and start practicing. In underdeveloped countries, people are attracted towards these quacks due to economic reasons and start taking herbal medicine. These unqualified practitioners themselves are not aware of toxic effects of herbal medicines, and if the patient complains, they cannot rectify their mistake. 2.3 . Sub-standard product There are many sub-standard herbal products available in the market. The reason is that these products are not tested accordingly for quality before marketing. Some contain less amount of active ingredient and some do not contain active ingredient at all as a result of incorrect identification of plant by the collector, using adulterant instead of original plant or due to improper storage of plant material, and it loses its efficacy. Sometimes the herbal products contain material not defined on label such as non-herb material, minerals, heavy metals, and addition of particular pharmaceutical product. Occasionally they may contain toxins and pesticides, which is much more dangerous and one of the major reasons of toxic effects after herbal medicine intake [2].