How To-68: "How to Use Herbal Supplements Safely"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Herbal supplements are a type of dietary supplement that contains herbs. A plant or part of a plant used for its flavor, scent, or potential therapeutic properties. Includes flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, stems, and roots., either singly or in mixtures. An herb (also called a botanical) is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor, and/or therapeutic properties.
Many herbs have a long history of use and of claimed health benefits. However, some herbs have caused health problems for users. This article contains points you should consider for your safety if you use, or are thinking about using, herbs for health purposes. It does not discuss whether herbs work for specific diseases and conditions.

Steps

1. Understand that "natural" doesn't necessarily mean safe. It's important to know that just because an herbal supplement is labeled "natural" does not mean it is safe or without any harmful effects. For example, the herbs kava and comfrey have been linked to serious liver damage.
   
2. Be aware that herbal supplements can act in the same way as drugs. This means that they can cause medical problems if not used correctly or if taken in large amounts. In some cases, people have experienced negative effects even though they followed the instructions on a supplement label.
   
3. Be very cautious if you are pregnant or nursing. Women who are pregnant or nursing should be especially cautious about using herbal supplements, since these products can act like drugs. This caution also applies to treating children with herbal supplements.
   
4. Get proper advice. It is important to consult your health care provider before using an herbal supplement, especially if you are taking any medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter). Some herbal supplements are known to interact with medications in ways that cause health problems. Even if your provider does not know about a particular supplement, he can access the latest medical guidance on its uses, risks, and interactions.
   
5. Follow your health professional's instructions. If you use herbal supplements, it is best to do so under the guidance of a medical professional who has been properly trained in herbal medicine. This is especially important for herbs that are part of a whole medical system, such as traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurvedic medicine.
   
6. Note any different regulation issues. In the United States, for example, herbal and other dietary supplements are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as foods. This means that they do not have to meet the same standards as drugs and over-the-counter medications for proof of safety, effectiveness, and what the FDA calls Good Manufacturing Practices.
   
7. Keep informed of studies. The active ingredient(s) in many herbs and herbal supplements are not known. There may be dozens, even hundreds, of such compounds in an herbal supplement. Scientists are currently working to identify these ingredients and analyze products, using sophisticated technology. Identifying the active ingredients in herbs and understanding how herbs affect the body are important research areas for such government bodies as the US National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM).
   
8. Be cautious of the contents. Published analyses of herbal supplements have found differences between what's listed on the label and what's in the bottle. This means that you may be taking less - or more - of the supplement than what the label indicates. Also, the word "standardized" on a product label is no guarantee of higher product quality; for instance, in the United States, there is no legal definition of "standardized" (or "certified" or "verified") for supplements. Some herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms, or other substances.
   
9. Treat miraculous claims on websites with care. There has been an increase in the number of websites that sell and promote herbal supplements on the Internet. The US Federal Government has taken legal action against a number of company sites because they have been shown to contain incorrect statements and to be deceptive to consumers; this has also happened in other jurisdictions, such as Australia. It is important to know how to evaluate the claims that are made for supplements.
   

Tips

• About dietary supplements. Dietary supplements were defined in a law passed by Congress in 1994. A dietary supplement must meet all of the following conditions:
  
  • It is a product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet, which contains one or more of the following: vitamins; minerals; herbs or other botanicals; amino acids; or any combination of the above ingredients.
    
  • It is intended to be taken in tablet, capsule, powder, soft gel, gelcap, or liquid form.
    
  • It is not represented for use as a conventional food or as a sole item of a meal or the diet.
    
  • It is labeled as being a dietary supplement.
    
  
  

Things You'll Need

• Good information sources
  
• Professional health advice
  

Sources and Citations

• Entire article initiated from NCCAM, Herbal Supplements:Consider Safety Too, public domain resource for sharing.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Herbal Supplements Safely. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.