Herbal supplements: What to know before you buy

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Herbal supplements: What to know before you buy

By Mayo Clinic staff

Herbal supplements are widely available to almost anyone. But these

products aren't right for everyone, and there are a few cases in which you

definitely should not take them. Those who decide to try them often find the

labels on herbal supplements vague and confusing, of little help when it comes

to deciding among the wide selection available.

Herbal products have active ingredients that can affect how your body

functions, in the same way that over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs

can. If you're considering taking herbal supplements, determine whether they're

for you, and educate yourself about any products you intend to use.

Herbal supplements: When to pass

Herbal supplements may be popular, but are they for you? That depends on

the herb and your current health and medical history. Herbal supplements are not

for everyone. They may be particularly risky for certain individuals. Generally

avoid using herbal supplements on your own if:

a.. You're taking prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications.

Some herbs can cause serious side effects when mixed with prescription and OTC

drugs such as aspirin, blood thinners, or blood pressure medications. Talk to

your doctor about possible interactions.

a.. A proven medical treatment is already available for your medical

condition. A traditional medication with an established record for safety and

effectiveness will generally be less likely to result in adverse side effects.

a.. You're pregnant or breast-feeding. As a general rule, don't take any

medications - prescription, OTC or herbal - when you're pregnant or

breast-feeding unless your doctor approves. Medications that may be safe for you

as an adult may be harmful to your fetus or your breast-feeding infant.

a.. You're having surgery. Many herbal supplements can affect the

success of surgery. Some may decrease the effectiveness of anesthesia or cause

dangerous complications such as bleeding or high blood pressure. Tell your

doctor about any herbs you're taking or considering taking as soon as you know

you need surgery.

a.. You're younger than 18 or older than 65. Older adults may metabolize

medications differently. And few herbal supplements have been tested on children

or have established safe doses for children.

a.. Herb and drug interactions: 'Natural' products not always safe

b.. Herbal supplements and surgery: What you need to know

What's in a label?: Know what you're buying

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the federal agency responsible for

overseeing the safety of U.S. food and drug products, doesn't have the authority

to approve herbal supplements before they're sold, nor to guarantee that the

information listed on a supplement label actually matches the bottle's contents.

This makes choosing herbal supplements of the highest quality a difficult

prospect. To choose the best herbal supplement brands:

a.. Look for standardized herbal supplements. The U. S. Pharmacopoeia's

" USP Dietary Supplement Verified " seal on a supplement label indicates that the

supplement has met certain manufacturing standards. These standards include

testing the product for uniformity, cleanliness and freedom from environmental

contaminants such as lead, mercury, or drugs. The Good Housekeeping Institute, a

consumer products testing lab associated with Good Housekeeping magazine also

certifies some herbal supplements in this way. Unlike the other groups, a

certification mark from Good Housekeeping indicates they've found the product to

be safe and effective, in addition to meeting basic manufacturing standards.

Don't assume that all herbal products on the market are safe. Even the groups

that test herbal products in this way aren't obligated to report herbal

supplements that fail to live up to their standards.

a.. Select products that have been scientifically tested. The label

typically states if the brand has undergone scientific testing. Write to the

manufacturer for the test results, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain

anything that isn't clear. When evaluating the quality of any research done on a

supplement, look for words such as double-blind, controlled, and randomized.

Doctors consider the information from these types of studies to be the most

valuable and believable.

a.. Buy only single-herb products that clearly show how much of the herb

each dose contains. Some products are mixtures of several herbs with unknown

proportions of each.

a.. Beware of claims that sound too good to be true. If a claim sounds

outrageous to you, trust your instinct. No one herbal product can possibly

address a wide spectrum of health concerns.

a.. Be extremely cautious about taking herbs manufactured or purchased

outside the United States. Many European herbs are highly regulated and

standardized. But toxic ingredients and prescription drugs have been found in

some herbal supplements manufactured in other countries.

a.. Herbal supplements: How they're labeled and regulated

Dangerous herbs

Most herbal supplement manufacturers are responsible and careful. But, as

with any product, proceed with caution, particularly since supplements aren't

subject to significant regulation. Some herbal supplements are known to have

caused serious side effects and even death.

If you have serious side effects or become ill from taking an herbal

supplement, call your doctor. You or your doctor should also report the problem

to the FDA. To report the problem, call (800) FDA-1088, or , or go

to the FDA's MedWatch Web site.

a.. Food and Drug Administration: MedWatch

When you contact them, they'll ask for the:

a.. Name, address and telephone number of the person who became ill

b.. Name and address of the doctor or hospital providing medical

treatment for the illness

c.. Description of the problem

d.. Name of the herbal product and the store or Web site from which it

was purchased

Also, contact the manufacturer or distributor listed on the product label

as well as the store where you bought the herbal supplement. If possible,

provide them with the lot number listed on the box or bottle. The makers and

distributors of herbal supplements are not required to report adverse effects

associated with their products to the FDA - though some responsible supplement

makers do. A report made directly to the FDA, however, does go on record, and

the agency may pull a product from sale in the face of evidence that it's

dangerous.

When to complement conventional medicine

Ideally, complementary therapies, such as herbal supplements, and

conventional medicine should work together - because no single approach can

address every aspect of a health problem. If you choose to use herbal products,

consider using them to maintain good health and to relieve symptoms. Talk to

your doctor before taking any herbal medicines. And continue to rely on

conventional medicine to diagnose a problem and to treat the source of a

disease. In addition, seek conventional treatment if you have a sudden, severe

or life-threatening health problem.

Related Information

a.. Herbal diet products

a.. Complementary & Alternative Medicine Center

a.. Food & Nutrition Center

Additional Resources

a.. National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements

a.. National Institutes of Health: National Center for Complementary and

Alternative Medicine

December 30, 2003

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I hope this finds you and yours well

Mark E. Armstrong

casca@...

www.top5plus5.com

PAI NW Rep

ICQ #59196115