Between being born to a reasonably inquisitive mother, and having spent some time without health insurance, I've learned how to treat a lot of ailments at home. What bothers me is seeing how people will point out the dangers of a herbal treatment, but assume that a prescribed one is safe. ALL medicines have their risks, regardless of their origin. It should be safe to assume that a doctor has chosen the best option for you from what they had to choose from, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't bother researching it. If someone is prescribing something to you, please ask about it; it's your doctor's job to know what they're giving you, and how it works.