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Healthy Herbal Supplements
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Published: October 13, 2006
A growing number of people are turning to herbal supplements and other natural remedies as a gateway to better health. Even though one herbal supplement should never be considered a magic pill for a coverall cure, cautious use of herbal supplements can still provide lasting medical benefits.
Though many people may see herbal supplements as an avant-garde alternative medicine, the idea of extracting healing powers from plants is by no means anything new. As long as man has roamed the earth, the idea of using the earth for the promotion of healthy well-being has existed. The shamans of yesteryear have since been replaced by today's booming herbal supplement industry.
After years of stagnancy, the industry took a much-needed step in 1994 toward changing its image as the eccentric uncle of the health family – a fun distraction to have around, but ultimately one who nobody fully understands.
Often regarded as a mishmash of roots, stems and leaves, the industry finally shed its training wheels when the Clinton Administration put forth the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Not only did this piece of legislation define what constitutes an herbal supplement – a constant point of bickering among its detractors – but it regulated the form of the supplement, how it would be labeled on the shelves and how to administer and monitor its usage.
No longer are quack doctors the only ones investing their time and money into such products; physicians, pharmacists, nutritionists, chemists and herbal specialists all have spent time researching and developing the industry. Today, herbal supplements finally offer a viable alternative to consumers looking for something new. Herbal supplements currently exist to promote weight loss, appetite suppressing, carbohydrate blocking, metabolism boosting, breast enhancing, male and female libido enhancing and anti-aging.
However, when talking about herbal supplements the idea of safety cannot be ignored. Just like over-the-counter or prescription drugs, herbal supplements contain active ingredients capable of reacting with the natural processes of the body. Even though the DSHEA defined herbal supplements, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lacks the authority to approve all herbal supplements before they hit the shelves. The consumer must fully trust the supplement’s label.
Still, consumers should not be scared away; there are steps to take to ensure nothing unwanted happens. First, make sure there is a stamp certifying the product as a standardized herbal supplement.
Even though the FDA does not approve dietary supplements, certain manufacturing standards exist. Secondly, avoid products containing mixtures of herbs. Sticking to single-herbal supplements will make it easier to track dosages and prevent surprise reactions. Third, even though foreign supplements may claim to have the regulation their U.S. counterparts lack, this could be misleading – toxic ingredients and even prescription drugs have been discovered in some foreign herbal supplements.
While researching which herbal supplements best suit your needs, consult with your physician to make sure you have all the facts about the herbal supplements in question. Even though herbal supplements come from the earth, never assume they lack the same dangerous potential for serious side-effects found in prescription drugs.
Still, when administered as safely as possible, herbal remedies can be a wonderful way to supplement health. They are best used in combination with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Sources:
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1 December 1995. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
9 October 2006. <http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dietsupp.html.&g t;
Herbal supplements: What to know before you buy. Mayo Clinic. 17 November 2005. 10 October 2006. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/herbal-supple ments/SA00044.>
Office of Dietary Supplements. 2006. National Institutes of Health. 9 October 2006. <http://ods.od.nih.gov/.>
Physicians' Select Herbal Supplements. Physicians Select. 9 October 2006. <http://www.physiciansselect.com/.>
Your Guide to Herbs & Herbal Supplements. Herbal Supplements Guide.com. 10 October 2006. <http://www.herbal-supplements-guide.com/.>
Though many people may see herbal supplements as an avant-garde alternative medicine, the idea of extracting healing powers from plants is by no means anything new. As long as man has roamed the earth, the idea of using the earth for the promotion of healthy well-being has existed. The shamans of yesteryear have since been replaced by today's booming herbal supplement industry.
After years of stagnancy, the industry took a much-needed step in 1994 toward changing its image as the eccentric uncle of the health family – a fun distraction to have around, but ultimately one who nobody fully understands.
Often regarded as a mishmash of roots, stems and leaves, the industry finally shed its training wheels when the Clinton Administration put forth the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Not only did this piece of legislation define what constitutes an herbal supplement – a constant point of bickering among its detractors – but it regulated the form of the supplement, how it would be labeled on the shelves and how to administer and monitor its usage.
No longer are quack doctors the only ones investing their time and money into such products; physicians, pharmacists, nutritionists, chemists and herbal specialists all have spent time researching and developing the industry. Today, herbal supplements finally offer a viable alternative to consumers looking for something new. Herbal supplements currently exist to promote weight loss, appetite suppressing, carbohydrate blocking, metabolism boosting, breast enhancing, male and female libido enhancing and anti-aging.
However, when talking about herbal supplements the idea of safety cannot be ignored. Just like over-the-counter or prescription drugs, herbal supplements contain active ingredients capable of reacting with the natural processes of the body. Even though the DSHEA defined herbal supplements, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lacks the authority to approve all herbal supplements before they hit the shelves. The consumer must fully trust the supplement’s label.
Still, consumers should not be scared away; there are steps to take to ensure nothing unwanted happens. First, make sure there is a stamp certifying the product as a standardized herbal supplement.
Even though the FDA does not approve dietary supplements, certain manufacturing standards exist. Secondly, avoid products containing mixtures of herbs. Sticking to single-herbal supplements will make it easier to track dosages and prevent surprise reactions. Third, even though foreign supplements may claim to have the regulation their U.S. counterparts lack, this could be misleading – toxic ingredients and even prescription drugs have been discovered in some foreign herbal supplements.
While researching which herbal supplements best suit your needs, consult with your physician to make sure you have all the facts about the herbal supplements in question. Even though herbal supplements come from the earth, never assume they lack the same dangerous potential for serious side-effects found in prescription drugs.
Still, when administered as safely as possible, herbal remedies can be a wonderful way to supplement health. They are best used in combination with a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Sources:
Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 1 December 1995. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
9 October 2006. <http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/dietsupp.html.&g t;
Herbal supplements: What to know before you buy. Mayo Clinic. 17 November 2005. 10 October 2006. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/herbal-supple ments/SA00044.>
Office of Dietary Supplements. 2006. National Institutes of Health. 9 October 2006. <http://ods.od.nih.gov/.>
Physicians' Select Herbal Supplements. Physicians Select. 9 October 2006. <http://www.physiciansselect.com/.>
Your Guide to Herbs & Herbal Supplements. Herbal Supplements Guide.com. 10 October 2006. <http://www.herbal-supplements-guide.com/.>
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