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Herbal Supplements
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Published: August 22, 2006
Do you beef up your immune system with Echinacea when you feel a cold coming on? Or use a sleep enhancer that contains valerian? Have you started taking ginkgo biloba to get a better handle on where you left those darn car keys?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you have helped make herbal supplements a $20 billion to $30 billion market annually.
Herbal supplements have captured a leading role in a back-to-basics trend which has Western consumers seeking natural healing remedies and alternative medicine options in recent years.
One reason herbal supplements have caught fire is they are no longer confined to health-food stores. Brand lines such as Nature Made and Nature's Bounty are carried by major pharmacies and chain stores. Their inclusion in "real" drugstores makes them more acceptable to the buying public.
Modern science also is beginning to validate some herbal supplements' claims. Ginkgo biloba, for instance, has been used for thousands of years to enhance memory. Black cohosh is a traditional folk remedy used for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Some clinical trials indicate these two products seem to do what natural health advocates have claimed for years.
Other popular herbal supplements include St. John's wort (relief of mild to moderate depression), saw palmetto (promote men's prostate and urinary health) and evening primrose (relief of pre-menstrual symptoms). Again, some scientific studies show these supplements might be helpful. Many tests, however, have been too limited and results too inconclusive to draw any solid conclusions.
Many people buy herbal supplements because they think "natural" products are gentler and safer than prescription drugs. This is not necessarily true. Although supplements such as ginseng and ginger are commonly taken with no apparent ill effects (ginseng may help lower blood pressure and ginger seems to relieve motion sickness), there is still not enough clinical evidence to show what doses are safe or what side effects might develop from prolonged use.
Herbal supplements also can interact dangerously with over-the-counter or prescription drugs. St. John's wort, for instance, should not be taken for at least three weeks prior to surgery. It acts as a blood thinner and could increase the risk of internal bleeding during and after the procedure. It also should not be taken with aspirin, which is another blood thinner.
Herbal supplements are sold in several forms. They can be tablets, capsules, pills, liquids or even teas. They belong to a larger group of dietary supplements called botanicals.
Botanicals are plants or parts of plants used for medicinal or therapeutic purposes. They are not governed by the Food and Drug Administration or tested as rigorously as prescription drugs. Therefore, consumers must evaluate herbal supplements' claims of benefits, safety and recommended doses carefully.
The Mayo Clinic recommends buying herbal supplements manufactured only in the U.S. or Europe to ensure purity. It also recommends consumers to look for some sort of certification from Consumers Lab, Good Housekeeping or US Pharmacopeia. Serving size, amount and kind of active ingredients should be listed on the label.
The good news for fans of herbal supplements and natural remedies is conventional doctors are becoming more familiar with them. They can advise their patients on the pros and cons of using herbal supplements, even if they do not recommend or prescribe them.
A wealth of information about herbal supplements is available online for people who want to learn more. Some excellent sources include www.mayoclinic.com (the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota), http://nccam.nih.gov (the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clearinghouse), http://ods.od.nih.gov (the National Institute of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements), www.herbs.org (The American Botanical Council) and www.webmd.com.
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, you have helped make herbal supplements a $20 billion to $30 billion market annually.
Herbal supplements have captured a leading role in a back-to-basics trend which has Western consumers seeking natural healing remedies and alternative medicine options in recent years.
One reason herbal supplements have caught fire is they are no longer confined to health-food stores. Brand lines such as Nature Made and Nature's Bounty are carried by major pharmacies and chain stores. Their inclusion in "real" drugstores makes them more acceptable to the buying public.
Modern science also is beginning to validate some herbal supplements' claims. Ginkgo biloba, for instance, has been used for thousands of years to enhance memory. Black cohosh is a traditional folk remedy used for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Some clinical trials indicate these two products seem to do what natural health advocates have claimed for years.
Other popular herbal supplements include St. John's wort (relief of mild to moderate depression), saw palmetto (promote men's prostate and urinary health) and evening primrose (relief of pre-menstrual symptoms). Again, some scientific studies show these supplements might be helpful. Many tests, however, have been too limited and results too inconclusive to draw any solid conclusions.
Many people buy herbal supplements because they think "natural" products are gentler and safer than prescription drugs. This is not necessarily true. Although supplements such as ginseng and ginger are commonly taken with no apparent ill effects (ginseng may help lower blood pressure and ginger seems to relieve motion sickness), there is still not enough clinical evidence to show what doses are safe or what side effects might develop from prolonged use.
Herbal supplements also can interact dangerously with over-the-counter or prescription drugs. St. John's wort, for instance, should not be taken for at least three weeks prior to surgery. It acts as a blood thinner and could increase the risk of internal bleeding during and after the procedure. It also should not be taken with aspirin, which is another blood thinner.
Herbal supplements are sold in several forms. They can be tablets, capsules, pills, liquids or even teas. They belong to a larger group of dietary supplements called botanicals.
Botanicals are plants or parts of plants used for medicinal or therapeutic purposes. They are not governed by the Food and Drug Administration or tested as rigorously as prescription drugs. Therefore, consumers must evaluate herbal supplements' claims of benefits, safety and recommended doses carefully.
The Mayo Clinic recommends buying herbal supplements manufactured only in the U.S. or Europe to ensure purity. It also recommends consumers to look for some sort of certification from Consumers Lab, Good Housekeeping or US Pharmacopeia. Serving size, amount and kind of active ingredients should be listed on the label.
The good news for fans of herbal supplements and natural remedies is conventional doctors are becoming more familiar with them. They can advise their patients on the pros and cons of using herbal supplements, even if they do not recommend or prescribe them.
A wealth of information about herbal supplements is available online for people who want to learn more. Some excellent sources include www.mayoclinic.com (the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota), http://nccam.nih.gov (the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clearinghouse), http://ods.od.nih.gov (the National Institute of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements), www.herbs.org (The American Botanical Council) and www.webmd.com.
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