What is Natural Remedy

Natural remedies are medicinal products whose active ingredient comes from natural sources, has not been overly treated and consists of an animal part, bacterial culture, mineral or salt.

For centuries, people have used natural remedies to fight common illnesses such as colds, abdominal pain and toothache. And the trend continues. According to a 2007 report by the National Center for Health Statistics, almost 4 in 10 adults used some form of alternative means.

Despite the appeal of the concept of natural remedies for some, not all of them are safe or effective. In fact, some herbal and vitamin supplements don't even meet the safety standards required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. Because herbal supplements contain plants, the FDA considers them to be foods.

Therefore, the manufacturers who manufacture these products do not need to conduct clinical studies or follow the manufacturing and labeling laws required for prescription and over-the-counter medicines. In addition, some of these agents can interact with over-the-counter or prescription drugs. For this reason, experts recommend speaking to a doctor before trying a natural remedy.