Obviously the more you know about natural supplements, in particular ones you are interested in using, the better. And the more serious the disease you are attempting to treat, the more care you must exercise and the more you must know. There is no substitute for knowledge, as the doctors, scientists, and patients cited in this book will tell you.

If there is one thing to keep uppermost in your mind, it is that many natural supplements, particularly those that have effects on serious diseases, such as congestive heart failure, depression, cancer, and chronic fatigue syndrome, must be approached with respect. They work because they have strong pharmacological activity. Although their side effects are generally much less than those of prescription pharmaceuticals - which makes them especially attractive - natural remedies if abused or overused can also harm you.

In the best of all worlds, you would have a highly trained person - a pharmacist, a doctor, or another health professional - to help guide you: to tell you what you need, how to decide among products and brands, how much to take, what to expect - just as you do when you buy prescription drugs. That's the situation in Germany, where both physicians and pharmacists must be knowledgeable about natural remedies, their approved uses, their potential side effects, and how they should be prescribed. In this country, where natural supplements are virtually ignored by medical schools and poorly regulated by the government, there is no nationwide established repository of consumer information or support system. That is sure to change in the near future, as the power of natural medicines becomes more known. However, at the moment, you are on your own.

Source: Miracle Cures 1997