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Do you say “Make mine herbal” when choosing supplements?
Posted by: DeLila Bergan on June 12, 2008
Nearly 15 million Americans use herbs to improve their health. Although some herbs have potential health benefits, others may cause serious harm to our health, especially if taken with prescription medications. If your supplement choice is herbal, ask the following questions:
- Does my physician or health care provider know all of the herbal supplements, vitamin and mineral supplements, and over-the-counter medications that I use? Some medications should not be taken with certain herbal supplements.
- Did I get an accurate diagnosis before choosing an herbal supplement?
- Do I know the possible side effects the herb may have before I take it?
- Have I experienced any side effects when taking herbal supplements in the past? If you experience any side effects, stop taking the herb and tell your doctor or pharmacist right away.
- Did the recommendation or information about herbal supplements come from unbiased sources or from someone with training and experience in herbal medicine?
- If I take supplements that contain more than one herb, do I know the interactions that may exist between herbs?
- Am I buying my herbal supplements from a reliable source? Remember, price is not always the best indicator of quality.
Remember when weeding through the facts and fiction about herbal medicine: the FDA does not have resources to analyze the composition of herbal supplements; the manufacturer is responsible for making sure the label is truthful and that all ingredients in a supplement are safe; and the FDA has to prove that a supplement is unsafe before it can be taken off the market.
To report a problem or illness caused by a dietary supplement, call the FDA’s MedWatch Program at 1-800-FDA-1088. Your name will be kept confidential, and you can also report problems with medical devices and medical foods.
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