Treating Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders With Herbal Medicines

Book excerpt: The utilization of herbal medicine to treat endocrine and metabolic disorders has garnered much attention within the past few decades. Specifically, the popularity of using dietary supplements for the management of chronic disorders has drastically increased, with a wide variety of these products available over the counter. They represent an attractive adjuvant to traditional therapy for their lower toxicity and their easy accessibility. The identification of such dietary compounds has prompted researchers to explore the vast array of their beneficial effects. However, despite their widespread use, there is still limited data on the safety and efficacy of the products currently on the market. Current research on the side effects and safe usage of herbal medicines is necessary for providing optimal care and counseling for patients. Treating Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders With Herbal Medicines is a comprehensive reference book focused on spreading awareness on the safety, potential harmful effects, and rational use of herbal medicines. The chapters within explore and provide insight on the effectiveness, versatility, and side effects of various herbal medicines across a range of different diseases and conditions. While highlighting herbal medicine in areas such as diabetes, cancer, infertility, and endocrine disorders, this publication is ideally intended for clinical practitioners, pharmaceutical scientists, doctors, practitioners, stakeholders, researchers, academicians, and students interested in enhancing their knowledge and awareness in the field of complementary medicine.