OTC Drugs: Take precautions with herbal supplements
Earlier this month we started a series on sustainable drug use -- which was fun and all -- but we realized a more practical guide might be in order. With that in mind, here's everything we know about common over-the-counter remedies. To view all the posts in this series, go here.
Alternative medicine includes any practice that is not part of conventional medicine, such as homeopathic, chiropractic and herbal medical practices.
Even though herbal supplements are sometimes sold in bottles that sort of look like drug bottles, there is a very important distinction between supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. In the U.S., herbal and other dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA as foods, not drugs, meaning they do not have to meet the same safety standards as prescription drugs and OTC drugs. In addition, manufacturers of supplements are not required to guarantee the effectiveness or even the content of their products.
This doesn't mean that you should discredit all herbal supplements, but precautions should be taken. According to the National Institutes of Health, while many herbs have a long history of use and claimed health benefits, some can cause health problems. Here are a few things you should be aware of before you take an herbal supplement:
Alternative medicine includes any practice that is not part of conventional medicine, such as homeopathic, chiropractic and herbal medical practices.Even though herbal supplements are sometimes sold in bottles that sort of look like drug bottles, there is a very important distinction between supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. In the U.S., herbal and other dietary supplements are regulated by the FDA as foods, not drugs, meaning they do not have to meet the same safety standards as prescription drugs and OTC drugs. In addition, manufacturers of supplements are not required to guarantee the effectiveness or even the content of their products.
This doesn't mean that you should discredit all herbal supplements, but precautions should be taken. According to the National Institutes of Health, while many herbs have a long history of use and claimed health benefits, some can cause health problems. Here are a few things you should be aware of before you take an herbal supplement:
- Labels might not mean anything: Just because it's labeled "Natural" does not mean it's safe or without harmful effects. "Standardized" "Certified" and "Verified," also don't mean anything here in the U.S.
- Supplements can cause health problems: Herbal supplements can cause problems if not used correctly or if taken in large amounts.
- Ask a doctor first: You should consult with your health care provider before taking any herbal supplement, especially if you take any medications. It's best to use herbal supplements under the guidance of a medical professional who has been trained in herbal medicine.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-17-2008 @ 9:26PM
valgrnfrn said...
To my knowledge and experience, herbal supplements are very helpful and more harmless than prescriptives, if dietarliy corrrectly taken. I think your simple statements of minute information are harmful and detrimental to Green America and the world. I think a better explaination would be more helpful and beneficial to people who do their part to help protect the living natural world. Please consider being more respectfully responsible in the near future.
Reply
7-18-2008 @ 6:20PM
truth said...
Maybe a better explanation of herbal supplements:
Long ago, people sold various elixirs and potions guaranteed to cure all and fix what ailed you, many of them 100% natural containing large amounts of alcohol and some roots, plants, nut extracts, and some other various substances; many of them chemically derived as well. These were wonder drugs that many swore by and endorsed whole heatedly as safe and good for you. These substances were often referred to derisively as "snake oil."
One day someone said, "dude have you heard those snake oil sales men, their stuff cannot possibly do all the good things that they say it does, and I keep hearing these rumors of people having strange side effects from the snake oil." Eventually with great work and cajoling the Safe Food and Drug Act was passes. The Snake Oil that worked and was unlikely to kill you became medicine, the Snake Oil that was dangerous was not allowed to be sold, and some that would not kill you but were not effective at curing everything became today's soft drinks.
One day along came a republican Senator from Utah with big investments in a vitamin company. He said to himself, "damn it, if only we did not have to deal with that Safe Food and Drug act, we could sell a lot more stuff; I really hate this nanny state thing, shouldn't the market determine the public good and not some pointy headed scientists telling us when we are being poisoned or lied to about the effectiveness of pills I could sell." So the Republican Senator went to work and got passed legislation allowing for the sale of supplements without having to be held up to the requirements safe food and drug act.
The Republican Senator was very happy and became even richer. The market in it's infinite wisdom embraced the new supplements not caring that the claims on the bottle were not supported by anything approaching a double blind scientific test reassured by the fact that the FDA's unbelievably lax standards required that the substances would not at most cause instant death. All was good an happy now that the snake oil had been returned to the people.
Then one day some pointy headed guy comes along and comments on a blog that maybe some caution should be used when taking an herbal supplement, which is really just a drug by another name. The blogger says that maybe someone should be out there checking up on these things to make sure those supplements/snake oils do not kill you slowly. They say maybe someone should stand up for the little guy and see if the marketing is just lies.
Then the response comes, and the blogger is called "harmful and detrimental to Green America."
It is really kind of funny. Stop drinking the cool-aid valgrnfrn and ask yourself what it is you are putting in your body. Do not have blind faith in the snake oil sales men. Demand double blind scientific testing, and demand real safety.
Reply
7-21-2008 @ 9:07AM
rawcourage said...
A good example of the FDA and AMA not doing their jobs is in the RX of hypothyroidism. The md's refuse to prescribe ARMOUR natural thyroid med. The Osteopath DRS. will prescribe Armour. Millions of people have used the natural med for years with great success. Millions have used the synthetic synthroid without success and are miserable everyday. It is estimated 1 person in 10 have hypothyroisdism but only half are being treated. U.S. Gov just does not do its' job when it comes to the health of Americans.
Reply
8-16-2008 @ 8:53PM
charliedw said...
I am a great believer in herbal and natural medicines, but I understand that there are a lot of false claims being made. The trouble is that just one falsehood gets all natural and herbal remedies labelled as "snake oil" when some of them are actually very good.
I would like suggest a possible solution that could give full evidence to herbal/natural remedies, yet still satisfy the critics who advocate only the use of FDA proven drugs.
To get any substance (drug/herbal/whatever) passed the FDA requires extremely expensive testing which only the pharmaceutical companies can afford. If they are going to spend this kind of money then they want to be able to patent it and profit from it (which is fair if they are going to put out the money to test it). Unfortunately, in order to get a patent some synthetic element usually has to be incorporated.
When it comes to a herbal "cures", who is going to spend such large sums of money on a herb that maybe be brilliant but can't be patented (hence can't be profited from).
We need to find a way to subject herbal/natural remedies to the same level of testing as drugs. This means that governments (not industry) would have to pay. But which government should spend all that money when other countries would benefit too? I believe that all developed countries should pay into a collective pot and some international body should co-ordinate.
The result could be some very cheap cures become accepted and available, especially to the Third World countries that cannot afford expensive drugs. If herbal remedies could be proven to FDA drug standards, then poor countries could grow their own. I realise that issues like quality and consistency would need to be worked out, but this does have terrific potential.
If you like this idea, please take a look at this posting for further info:
http://blog.advancedsilversolution.com/2008/08/08/approvals-for-herbal-and-nutritional-supplements-as-medicines/
8-16-2008 @ 8:53PM
charliedw said...
I am a great believer in herbal and natural medicines, but I understand that there are a lot of false claims being made. The trouble is that just one falsehood gets all natural and herbal remedies labelled as "snake oil" when some of them are actually very good.
I would like suggest a possible solution that could give full evidence to herbal/natural remedies, yet still satisfy the critics who advocate only the use of FDA proven drugs.
To get any substance (drug/herbal/whatever) passed the FDA requires extremely expensive testing which only the pharmaceutical companies can afford. If they are going to spend this kind of money then they want to be able to patent it and profit from it (which is fair if they are going to put out the money to test it). Unfortunately, in order to get a patent some synthetic element usually has to be incorporated.
When it comes to a herbal "cures", who is going to spend such large sums of money on a herb that maybe be brilliant but can't be patented (hence can't be profited from).
We need to find a way to subject herbal/natural remedies to the same level of testing as drugs. This means that governments (not industry) would have to pay. But which government should spend all that money when other countries would benefit too? I believe that all developed countries should pay into a collective pot and some international body should co-ordinate.
The result could be some very cheap cures become accepted and available, especially to the Third World countries that cannot afford expensive drugs. If herbal remedies could be proven to FDA drug standards, then poor countries could grow their own. I realise that issues like quality and consistency would need to be worked out, but this does have terrific potential.
If you like this idea, please take a look at this posting:
http://blog.advancedsilversolution.com/2008/08/08/approvals-for-herbal-and-nutritional-supplements-as-medicines/
Reply