What are the functions of medical herbal preparations?

The core function of medical herbal therapy preparations is to rely on herbal active ingredients purified by modern technology to achieve mild symptom relief and organ function regulation within the corresponding indication range. At the same time, it can be used as an auxiliary medication to reduce the toxic and side effects caused by long-term use of some chemical drugs.

A while ago, I had a follow-up visit with the Chronic Disease Management Team of the Community Health Service Center. I met several elderly patients who had been taking antihypertensive drugs for five or six years. They had problems with high liver enzymes and occasional dizziness and bloating. After evaluation, the doctor added compliant Ginkgo leaf purified herbal preparations. After taking the prescribed dosage for more than two months, he reexamined. Most of the patients' liver enzyme indicators fell back to the normal range, and the frequency of dizziness dropped by 70 to 80%.

Not only are they auxiliary for chronic diseases, many herbal preparations specifically for mild cases are also very effective when used alone. For example, when allergic rhinitis is most common in spring and autumn, many parents are afraid of using hormonal nasal sprays on their children to affect their growth and development. They will choose clinically proven medical herbal nasal drops containing magnolia and xanthium seeds to gently reduce edema of the nasal mucosa. In most cases, the symptoms of sneezing and nasal congestion can be relieved a lot after two or three days of use, and there are no side effects of drowsiness and dry nasal cavity.

However, the application of such preparations in the industry is not without disagreement. Many clinicians believe that the quantitative standards for the active ingredients of some herbal preparations are not completely unified at present. The active ingredient content of different manufacturers or even different batches of the same manufacturer fluctuates, which may directly affect the effect. There is also a small risk of sensitization. I have previously encountered a patient who used an herbal eczema ointment containing dandelion ingredients. After applying it twice, the affected area became red and rashed. After stopping the medication, he used saline wet compresses for three days before it subsided.

Of course, relevant standardization research has been keeping up in recent years. Many herbal preparations for atopic dermatitis and chronic pharyngitis have completed large-scale clinical controlled trials. The data shows that the effectiveness is no lower than that of conventional chemical drugs, and the recurrence rate in long-term follow-up is about 20% lower. After all, most of these preparations are from the perspective of conditioning the body, just like slowly adding warm water to a kettle that is boiling to the bottom quickly. It is much more effective than just pouring cold water on the steam coming out.

One more thing to note is that medical herbal therapy preparations are completely different from the three-no herbal secret formulas on the market that claim to "cure all diseases without side effects". The former has been approved by the drug regulatory department and has clear indications, contraindications and adverse reactions. Whether it is taken internally or externally, it is best to consult a professional medical care before use. Don't think that "herbal" means safe and without burden. Problems can still arise if you eat it indiscriminately.