There are literally hundreds of herbal products available on the market to treat just about any symptom you may have. Many believe that herbal medicine is safer than other medicines because they occur naturally, but this is not so. Many herbal plants are poisonous and have not been properly tested. Some may even contain poisons that could make you very sick. And, if you have medical conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, glaucoma, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and many others, herbal products may worsen your condition. Also, if you are elderly, there is a whole new set of risks that could present themselves if you take herbal supplements.

Common herbal alternative medicines include garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, kava, melatonin, black cohosh, dong quai, saw palmetto and St. John's Wort. Garlic is used to treat infections, improve circulation, and maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Ginkgo biloba is believed to increase memory, and is used to treat vertigo, ringing in the ears and a number of other neurological disorders. Ginseng is a popular treatment to relieve stress, increase energy levels and stimulate the immune system. Kava has been around for over 3,000 years and is now being used as a muscle relaxant, diuretic and to help with insomnia. Physiologists recognize that Melatonin synchronizes our bodies with daily rhythms and is used as a sleeping aid. Black cohosh's primary use is said to relieve menopausal symptoms in women, as is Don quai. Saw palmetto is seen to benefit men with prostatic hyperplasia, and St. John's Wort is widely used as a mild antidepressant.