Surely you've heard it said that “what's natural doesn't hurt”, have you? After all, if the product is found in nature, why would it harm our body? However, it is essential to understand that no matter if the product is natural or synthetic, it can, yes, put our health at risk.
→ How can natural products harm your health?
Let's imagine, for example, a plant known for its medicinal power. This plant is used by several traditional communities and also used in the manufacture of medicines. In these communities, it is consumed in the form of tea, however, each person prepares it in a way and uses different amounts of this plant. In industrialized medicine, its dose is well known and standardized. People, in general, are not afraid of tea, however, they do not dare to take high doses of the medicine.
What we notice in the example cited is that, many times, medicinal plants can be used in an uncontrolled manner. As there is no way to dose the compounds, poisoning can occur, as well as unsatisfactory results. The same idea is valid for industrialized medicine. If it is ingested in large proportions, it can cause damage to a person's health and, if consumed in low doses, it may have no effect.
Therefore, it is clear that any natural product can, indeed, be harmful to health, in the same way as synthetic ones.In addition to the issue related to the dose of the product, there are other important problems, such as:
→ Incorrect product identification: Some medicinal plants, for example, are similar to others that do not have this property and that can even trigger intoxication. Therefore, care must be taken to identify products with a medicinal function. It is noteworthy that the inadequate form of cultivation, collection and storage can also damage health.
→ Drug interaction: Some medications cannot be combined with certain compounds. Thus, using a medicinal plant or a supplement while taking any medication can interfere with its performance. People who use oral anticoagulants, for example, can increase the time of a bleeding when ingesting products based on chamomile.
→ Risk for pregnancy: There are natural products that can harm the health of women and children. Some plants are well known for their abortive power, others, however, do not have this widely publicized property. Plants such as rosemary, espinheira-santa and eucalyptus have reported abortifacient effects. Therefore, the use of plants and other natural products during pregnancy may not be appropriate and should be avoided.
→ Adverse reactions: Despite what many people think, natural products can also cause adverse reactions. Reports of allergic reactions and intoxications are common. The gourd, for example, is popularly indicated for cases of dysentery, herpes and sinusitis, however, it has toxicity and can cause miscarriages. Eucalyptus, which is indicated as an expectorant, can cause vomiting and diarrhea in some people.
We realize, therefore, that natural products, especially medicinal plants, are of great importance to society and can be used in the treatment of various diseases. However, it is essential to emphasize that its indiscriminate use can cause serious damage to health and, thus, not we can use them without first knowing the risks and reactions that these products can cause in our body.
Remember if: Before using any product or plant, talk to your doctor about possible health risks.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/saude-na-escola/o-que-natural-nao-faz-mal.htm