To herb or not to herb...

Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements are a huge industry.  It may be considered a type of CAM but it could be separated into a different category.  Consider this--in 2009 it was estimated that the sales of herbal supplements topped 5 billion dollars and was rising steadily (Nutraceuticals World, 2010).  It is also estimated that tens of millions of Americans are using some form of herbal supplement (Marinac et al., 2007).

Herbal supplements are sold and advertised to treat just about anything from legitimate health issues (e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure) to more self-fulfilling reasons (e.g. body part growth, appearance) and everything in between.  One of the most widely used subtypes of supplement is a dietary supplement.  The Center for Disease Control (2011) estimated that nearly 50% of Americans used a dietary supplement between the years 2003 and 2006.  But there are reasons to be mindful of dietary herbal supplements.

According to the National Institutes of Health (2013) there are five areas to be aware of:

• Dietary supplements contain  a number of different ingredients -- not all have been confirmed as having health benefits.
• Always read the labels and follow instructions of supplements.  They are not always safe.  Supplements may be supplemented with other substances.
• There may be some negative interactions between some supplements and some medications.  Many supplements have not been tested for pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for regulating foods and drugs and this includes dietary supplements, however  the regulations for dietary supplements are much less strict than prescription and over the counter medications. 
• Be sure to coordinate with your primary care physician on any type of CAM which includes using any sort of herbal supplements. 

The bottom line is this--read, consult, and be patient when considering herbal supplements.  It may take more time to consult with your physician but the ramifications of interactions with your medications or a supplement that has harmful additives is not worth the added stress on your life. 

References

 

Center for Disease Control and Protection. (2011). Dietary supplement use among U.S. adults has increased since NHANES III (1988–1994). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db61.htm

 

National Institutes of Health. (2013). Using dietary supplements wisely. Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm

 

Nutraceuticals World. (2010). U.S. Herbal Supplement Sales Reach $5 Billion. Retrieved from http://www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/issues/2010-06/view_industry-news/u-s-herbal-supplement-sales-reach-5-billion/      

 

Marinac, J.S., Buchinger, C.L., Godfrey, L.A.,  Wooten, J. M., Sun, C., & Willsie, S.K. (2007).

Herbal products and dietary supplements: A survey of use, attitudes, and

knowledge among older adults. View shared postThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 107, 13-23. Retrieved from http://www.jaoa.org/content/107/1/13.full.pdf