Its really not new medicine. Its really old medicine. Herbal use has only become alternative because we have allowed the AMA, medical schools and the pharm industries including the FDA to dictate and determine what is allowed to be called a drug, a cure, treatment or even an acceptable mode of investigation of an illness.
Natural cost effective drugs, treatement and yes cures do not fit the business model or the doctrine. A doctrine which consists mainly of a failure to understand old ways and a rejection of old ways out of hand for repeatable modern science. Diseases often aren't like repeatable modern science as we either don't know enough or even what is causing the problems. Often after a few trials the patent is dead and the scenario with the new patient is different.
Many "natural" herbs (as opposed to GMA herbs i suppose) have very potent side effects. And yes many others do not. However, it is possible to drink too much water and die from water intoxication and when taking foxglove you had better know what your doing or you will likely die.
The bottom line is know what your doing or rely on someone who has a serious obligation to do so for you and hope to hell they know what they are doing. I have a feeling there are plenty out there with advice that don't know what their doing and this includes doctors familiar and unfamiliar with herbs.
Check out Henrietta's herbal
www.henriettesherbal.com/