Public Health and Environment

Nutrition Focus:  Herbs - More Than Flavor

You may have noticed the increasing popularity of herbal products and not just for flavoring foods. There are herbal supplements for depression, hot flashes, headaches, weight problems, memory loss, arthritis and much more. Herbal remedies have been around for centuries and some pharmaceutical drugs are based on these age-old practices. They are natural and seem safe enough, right? Well, not exactly!

Americans spent an estimated $4 billion dollars on herbal and plant remedies in 1999. These products are available at many discount, drug, grocery and (so-called) health food stores. As a result of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, herbals are classified as dietary supplements and are no longer required to provide scientific proof of effectiveness or even safety. Since most natural remedies cannot be patented, drug companies are unlikely to spend the enormous amount of time and money it would take to prove/disprove the efficacy of many herbal supplements. The law does prohibit manufacturers from making health claims on the labels of dietary supplements. One way that they get around this rule is to give their supplements very suggestive names such as "EnergyBoost" for a product containing stimulants.

Herbals are handled much differently in other countries. For example, in Germany, natural remedies are tested and regulated by the government and sold in standardized form by the manufacturer. Their use is monitored by physicians, available only by prescription and often given by injection (not in pill, extract or tea forms). Here in the United States there are no guarantees that the supplement you buy contains the correct portion of the plant, let alone in a quantity or quality that will be effective. There is no monitoring system in the United States to ensure the value or purity of herbal remedies. The Food and Drug Administration does not routinely monitor herbal products and only gets involved when a problem has been identified.

Another big danger is the interaction of herbal combinations and herbal products with both prescription and non-prescription drugs. Some make prescription medications more effective while others are less effective when combined with herbal remedies. Even though some medical providers are starting to assess herbal product use, clients are hesitant to share this information. Then, when they go into their health care provider with symptoms due to herbal side effects, they are at risk for unnecessary or inappropriate medical treatments.

There are some promising herbal remedies that may cost less, cause fewer side effects and be as effective as prescription medications. However, there is need for more research and standardization of herbal products. Before you join the wave of Americans taking herbal products or teas for medicinal purposes, consider the following guidelines.

8 Tips to Consider Before for Taking Herbal Supplements

1. Don't believe everything you hear or read. Don't take herbs casually. Learn about an herb or supplement before you take it. The more you know, the better you will be able to judge its quality, effectiveness and side effects.
2. Ask for the credentials of the person selling you the product. Are they qualified to advise you?
3. Start with single herbs rather than combinations. Multi-herb formulas increase the risk of adverse reactions.
4. Start with less than the recommended dose and monitor your response carefully.
5. Don't take unnecessary risks. Pregnant or nursing women and young children should not take most herbal or other natural remedies.
6. Tell your physician that you are using herbal remedies and be sure to report any side effects. Don't self-treat a serious condition such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease or AIDs.
7. Buy only commercial products from reliable sources and look for standardized extracts whenever possible.
8. Stop taking an herb immediately if you experience any unpleasant reactions.

8 Potentially Toxic Herbs

1. Chaparral
2. Comfrey
3. Ephedra (ma huang)
4. Lobelia
5. Yohimbe
6. Kombucha mushrooms
7. Stephania/magnolia
8. Jin bu huan
9. The above herbs should be avoided. The potentially toxic effects include: liver or kidney failure, nervous system problems, lung changes, weakness, paralysis, digestive problems, high blood pressure, heart palpitations stroke and death.

10 Promising Herbs*

1. Chamomile
2. Echinacea
3. Feverfew
4. Garlic
5. Ginger
6. Gingko biloba
7. Hawthorn
8. Milk thistle
9. Saw palmetto
10. Valerian

* This is not a recommendation that you buy or use any of the above products, rather an acknowledgment that there is pretty good scientific evidence of their effectiveness for specific ailments. There are several good resources for information about herbal products however there are many more that are questionable or pure quackery so buyer beware!

Books For More Information

The following resources are given for educational and informational purposes only. This list is not comprehensive and does not imply endorsement of specific products or web sites.

• "The American Pharmaceutical Association's Practical Guide to Natural Medicines" by Andrea Peirce. (Source)
• "The Honest Herbal" by Steven Foster and Varro Tyler
• "Tyler's Herbs of Choice" by James Robbers and Varro Tyler.
• "The Health Professional's Guide to Popular Dietary Supplements" by Allison Sarubin.