Even nowadays, some people seem more inclined to try healing minor conditions at home by using herbs in different forms, than to see the GP for a prescription. On the one hand, because they are there, in everyone’s home and on the other because everybody has a grandmother who has used that kind of remedy all her life and has made it to her age without going to the doctor for every minor health problem.

Although herbs are generally thought of as the mild inexpensive remedies against minor ailments such as sore throats and coughs, some doctors now believe they can also be powerful treatments for more serious illnesses.

Herbs may take a bit longer to work, and the effects may be a little less dramatic at the outset, but they can be just as potent as conventional drugs. For patients who have had the bad side effects with drugs, herbs become very attractive.

Experts say, however, that not all herbal medicines are risk-free. They may not be subject to the same safety standards as conventional drugs are. When they are taken in high doses, some herbs can even have dangerous consequences. There are no statistics about the number of doctors who prescribe herbal remedies, but they are a minority - that means some consumers are often on their own and unfortunately misinformation abounds.

Manufacturers are allowed to make health claims for their herbal products whether these have been proven or not. Many have not been subject to scientific scrutiny, though there is reliable data about the safety and efficacy of herbal medicine, largely as a result of research carried out by scientists.