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The War on Traditional Medicine

By Áine Marie Reilly
BSc(hons) MIIMH, DipCoun

It seems the more evidence that emerges in support of traditional herbal medicine, the more certain members of the scientific community try to discredit it. One example is Professor Edzard Ernst, author of the book 'Trick or Treatment', who seems to be on a crusade to spread misinformation, and to mislead the public about the effectiveness of herbal medicine.

Most examples of adverse events which are quoted in order to discredit herbal medicine are based on over-the-counter products. These are usually taken by individuals without a proper diagnosis, and without advice from a qualified practitioner about whether that product is actually suitable for their condition. It is often impossible to establish whether the product in question was of good quality or whether it contained any other harmful ingredients.

The concerns which were raised recently about the safety of black cohosh were based on only 4 isolated cases of liver problems out of millions of people taking over-the-counter products containing this herb. Among these 4 cases, individuals were also taking other medication and/or alcohol which could equally be responsible for the liver problems. In contrast, thousand of deaths can be directly attributed to various pharmaceutical drugs, such as paracetamol, which continue to be available with ‘no questions asked’.

Iatrogenic causes of death (which refers to death caused by orthodox medical interventions such as adverse drug reactions) is the third largest cause of death in the Western world. However, in almost 150 years since the establishment of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, no deaths have ever been caused by herbal medicine prescribed by any of its members.

Plants generally contain one or more ‘main active constituents’ which are frequently extracted and concentrated (or artificially synthesised) to make pharmaceutical drugs. In some cases these constituents are harmful if taken alone and in large quantities, which is why pharmaceutical drugs often have side effects. However, herbal medicines in their natural form contain hundreds of other components. These reduce the required amount of any potentially harmful costituent, and actively protect the body against unwanted side effects.

Unfortunately, research on the safety of herbal medicine which is conducted by pharmaceutical companies is often carried out on a concentrated extract of the active constituent alone, which bears no resemblance to the herbal medicine prescribed by a practitioner of traditional herbal medicine. Products are also frequently tested on animals (who have a very different physiology to humans), and in relative doses that are many many times larger than the dose used to treat humans. To come back to the example of paracetamol, we all know that taking a very large quantity of paracetamol can cause liver damage and possible death, but that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe to take 2 paracetamol for a headache!

In response to all this uncertainty, people are frequently advised to consult their doctor before using herbal medicine. This seems like a sensible approach, but unfortunately doctors receive no training in herbal medicine, and they have no understanding about how it works, its potential benefits, or the interactions between herbal and orthodox medicine. Despite this lack of expertise or understanding in the area of herbal medicine, doctors are frequently happy to advise patients against taking herbal medicine, even when it can significantly improve their condition, and when orthodox medicine can offer no safe or effective treatment.

Doctors also frequently advise patients to discontinue herbal medicines which have been prescribed by qualified herbalists. However, just as it can be harmful to suddenly discontinue orthodox treatment, it can also be harmful to discontinue herbal medicine without the advice of a qualified medical herbalist. For example, if a person taking St. John’s wort alongside a pharmaceutical drug discontinues herbal treatment without the advice of a herbalist, this can cause an increase in the blood levels of the pharmaceutical drug which may be harmful. If a woman becomes pregnant with the assistance of herbal medicine to regulate hormones, stopping the treatment abruptly can cause hormone imbalance and possible miscarriage.

The truth is that traditional herbal medicine is a highly effective form of treatment for many health problems, including some which cannot be safely or effectively treated with orthodox medicine. When practised by a qualified medical herbalist it is also an exceptionally safe form of treatment. Therefore, if you are considering herbal medicine for yourself or your family, the best advice is to consult a qualified medical herbalist who is a member of the Irish Institute of Medical Herbalists (www.IIMH.org), which is the professional body for medical herbalists in Ireland, and ensures the highest standards of training and codes of practice.

(Áine Marie Reilly practices at The Lismore Clinic. To make an appointment for a private consultation telephone 058 53200 or 087 934 5910.)

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