With rising costs in health care, families are paying more out of pocket for doctor visits and common medications.

Today, a trip to the doctor for the common cold can set you back an average of $740, before insurance deductions. Analysts say that health care costs will continue to rise, and reforms tied to the Affordable Care Act could mean a 32 percent cost increase for families across the board.

In order to cut back, families are considering more natural remedies to soothe ailments, making alternative medicine more popular then ever.

Clinical herbalist, Maria Groves, of Wintergreen Botanicals, LLC, in Allentstown, N.H., teaches families how to use home-grown herbs for their everyday needs and said that more families are interested in herbal remedies then ever before.

The idea of getting things back into their own hands was really important," said Groves. "And being able to cut down costs in the long run, being able to take care of themselves and their families was really important and herbs do really well for mostcommon illnesses.

Groves also said that using herbal remedies may be better for you than most common medications you can find at the drug store, but noted that it's important you do your research before administering any herbal remedies to yourself or your family.

Herbs, I think, are much more effective than over-the-counter remedies.," said Groves. "Most over-the-counter remedies are just masking symptoms, and usually they are suppressing the immune system. So in the long run, they are making you feel more comfortable, but they are not actually helping.

As cold and flu season approaches, Groves noted that there are several herbs that are safe and effective for the whole family, including elderberry.

What elderberry seems to do is block out those receptor sites that viruses use to get into the body, she said.

Using the right herbal treatments can be an easy, inexpensive and effective way to save a trip to the doctor and time sitting in the waiting room with other sick patients.

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Health care hikes put herbs in the spotlight