Oct. 21, 2021 | Has someone ever recommended you take an herbal supplement for general health purposes or as an alternative to a prescribed medication? An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicines are a type of dietary supplement, sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants. People use herbal medicines to try to maintain or improve their health. Many people believe that products labeled “natural” are always safe and good for them but this is not necessarily true. Herbal medicines do not have to go through the testing that drugs do. Some herbs, such as comfrey and ephedra, can cause serious harm. Some herbs can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. If you are thinking about using an herbal medicine, first get information on it from reliable sources. And make sure to tell your health care provider about any herbal medicines you are taking.

Oct. 21, 2021 | Herbal supplements are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but not as strictly as prescription or over-the-counter drugs. They fall under a category called dietary supplements. Dietary supplement makers don’t need FDA approval to sell their products, but they must ensure that their supplements are free of contaminants and that they’re accurately labeled. They must also not make any specific medical claims. For example, a company can’t say, “This herb reduces the frequency of urination due to an enlarged prostate.” The FDA can take action against companies that make false or unsupported claims to sell their supplements. The FDA can remove dangerous products from the market. However, the rules don’t guarantee that herbal supplements are safe for anyone to use. Such products can pose unexpected risks because many supplements contain active ingredients that can have a strong effect in the body.

Oct. 21, 2021 | Before you take a certain herbal supplement, it’s important to discuss with a medical professional any possible side effects that might occur as a result of using the product. Some herbs can cause serious side effects when mixed with medications such as aspirin, blood thinners and blood pressure medications. If you are pregnant, it’s important to know that medications that may be safe for you as an adult may be harmful to your baby. If you are scheduled to have surgery, be aware that any herbal supplement can affect the success of your procedure. Some may decrease the effectiveness of anesthesia or cause dangerous complications, such as bleeding. An easy way to compare ingredients in herbal supplements is to use the Dietary Supplement Label Database, which is available on the website for the National Institutes of Health, www.nih.gov. You can look up products by their brand name, uses, active ingredient or manufacturer.

Oct. 21, 2021 | Manufacturers of herbal supplements are responsible for ensuring that the claims they make about their products aren’t false or misleading. But they aren’t required to submit this evidence to the FDA. So before you take any kind of herbal supplement, look for objective, research-based information to evaluate a product’s claims. When looking for information, first ask your doctor or pharmacist. Even if they don’t know about a specific supplement, they may be able to point you to the latest medical guidance about its uses and risks. You can also look for scientific research findings. Two good sources are the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the Office of Dietary Supplements. Both have websites to help consumers make informed choices about dietary supplements. When all else fails, contact the manufacturer. Ask to talk with someone who can answer questions, such as what data the company has to substantiate product claims.

Oct. 21, 2021 | Herbal remedies aren’t new, plants have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. If you talked it over with your health-care provider and you are ready to take a specific herbal supplement, be sure to play it safe. First and foremost, always follow instructions. Don’t exceed any recommended dosages or take it for longer than recommended. Second, be sure to keep track of what you take. Make a note of what you take, and how much for how long, and how it affects you. Stop taking the supplement if it isn’t effective or doesn’t meet your goals for taking it. And choose your brand wisely. Stick to brands that have been tested by independent sources, such as ConsumerLab.com, U.S. Pharmacopeia and NSF International. The FDA maintains a list of supplements that are under regulatory review or that have been reported to cause adverse effects, so check the FDA website periodically for updates.