The use of herbs, nutrition and other natural elements to treat diseases and disorders has existed for thousands of years. In fact, many of the pharmacological drugs used today were modeled after effective herbs...for instance the naturally occurring ephedra predisposed the synthetic pseudoephedrine - very popular in treating the symptom of congestion.
Science is now finding more and more reasons to pay attention to subtle imbalances in the body that are often still ignored, even by most doctors. Enzymes, hormones, electrolytes, amino acids, heavy metals, pesticides and viruses affect our bodies in innumerable ways. Most people never get an allergy test, let alone an amino acid panel, fecal analysis, heavy metal profile, electrolyte panel - even a complete blood count (CBC) and cholesterol test are rarely given unless requested by a patient or if the patient is sick and is in the hospital. Yet we continue to hear announcements that health problems are on the rise and nobody knows exactly why. Many diseases and conditions can be eliminated if one knows of existing but elusive allergies, deficiencies, or overabundances.
Care must be taken when introducing any kind of medicine or supplement - natural or otherwise - into the body. One must take into account any allergies (ragweed allergy sufferers often can't take chamomile), one's fitness level, body size and weight, gender, pregnancy/nursing status, etcetera before using herbs and supplements - just as one would consider these before using drugs. Always, always ask your doctor before using any kind of herbal, medicinal or other natural healing solution. And ask for those tests you've been wondering about - better to be safe than sorry.
It's just amazing how much one supplement, or the elimination of just one food can change your life!