Alternative medicine has been around since the beginning of man's time on earth. At one time, natural remedies were conventional medicine, but as technology advanced some of those teachings fell to the wayside and were all but forgotten or dismissed as superstition. Now the pendulum has swung in the other direction and people are taking a closer look at these natural remedies.

There are many people who swear by herbal remedies, and there are even some doctors who incorporate herbs with modern medicine. If you go into any health food store, no doubt you will find at least one aisle stocked with all kinds of herbs in boxes, bottles and loose in bins or bags. Your first encounter is most likely because you have a cold or flu. Maybe someone in the office suggested you take some Echinacea. On the other hand, maybe you have been having difficulty sleeping, and you remember reading somewhere that chamomile tea was good for getting rid of insomnia? The very first thing you need to do before taking any herbal remedy is to do your homework. By themselves and in certain doses, some herbs are beneficial. There are, however, herbs that should not be mixed together and herbs that should not be taken in more than the recommended amounts.

One such herb is Ephedra, or Ma Huang. While this herb can be useful, far too many people abused it. More is not always better, especially with an herb like this. A few years ago, Ephedra was touted as the miracle herb, and quickly gained popularity in the gyms and with athletes. Ephedra boasted quick weight loss by increasing the metabolism and could help with respiratory problems. What people did not know was that Ephedra increases the body's core temperature and is a very powerful stimulant, and in some cases, people have died from taking too much of this potent herb.

If you are looking for a quick fix or instant gratification, herbal remedies are not for you. Using herbs takes time and patience. The herbs often need up to three weeks to start working to heal the body. With all the instant cures on the market it is easy to get frustrated and give up when you do not see immediate results. Stick with your regimen and let the herbs do their work, even if you don't feel anything is happening right away.

There are some herbs that work more quickly than others. Chamomile, Kava-Kava and Valerian, which are all good for sleeplessness, will begin to work in a few hours. If you have an upset stomach or a case of car sickness, ginger will take care of that immediately. If Valerian sounds familiar, it should, this herb's derivative is Valium. Although Valerian is not addictive it is still best to use it with care. As with all herbs, do your research first and remember it is best to err on the side of caution and treat all herbs with the respect and care they deserve.