Herbal/alternative and modern medicine can come together as a safe practice?

Great Questions!
I am a registered medical herbalist and on my way to becoming a FNP.
I practice evidence-based herbalism, basing formulas and safety recommendations on research validated traditions. My job is to be a liasion between patients and providers and determine what is safe, likely for risk, and a big no-no. There is NO doubt that we have MASSIVE evidence that these herbs work, we just need to know more about how...the same as ALL medicine.

Look for the Botanical Safety Handbook by Zoe Gardner in 2010 for the best comprehensive compendium of safety evidence in herbal therapies.

To answer the original thread, YES, they can exist safely and effectively with one another, but BOTH (illusory) "sides" need to willing to communicate with and learn from one another. Hope this helps!