Examples of common herbal health products and supplements include black cohosh, echinacea, garlic, ginkgo, saw palmetto, and saw palmetto. Herbal supplements, sometimes called botanicals, are a type of dietary supplement that contains one or more herbs.
In the United States, dietary supplements are substances that you eat or drink.
These can be vitamins, minerals, herbs or other plants, amino acids (the individual components of proteins), or parts of these substances. They may be in pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid form.They complement (add) to the diet and should not be considered a substitute for food. Multivitamins, vitamin D, echinacea, and fish oil are among the many dietary supplements found on store shelves or available online. Maybe you're already taking a supplement or are thinking about using one. Dietary supplements can be beneficial to health, but they can also pose health risks.
That's why it's important to talk to a healthcare professional to help you decide if a supplement is right for you. Products made from botanical or plant products that are used to treat diseases or to maintain health are called herbal products, botanical products, or phytomedicines. A product made from plants and used only for internal use is called an herbal supplement. If you use herbal supplements, follow label instructions carefully and use only the prescribed dose.
A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control indicates that more than half of the country's people take an herbal supplement daily. Not all herbal supplements are the same, and it's best to choose a brand from a reputable manufacturer. St. John's Wort is a popular herbal supplement thought to be useful for treating depression in some cases.
If you are taking aspirin, digoxin, diuretics, hypoglycemic agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, spironolactone, or warfarin, DO NOT use herbal supplements without first talking to your doctor. Learn all you can about the herbs you are taking by consulting your doctor and contacting the manufacturers of herbal supplements for information. The Dietary Supplements Health Education Act of October 1994 does not require manufacturers of herbal products to demonstrate that their products are safe or effective before placing them on the market. Because they are not subject to close examination by the FDA or other government agencies, the use of herbal supplements remains controversial.
It's best to consult your doctor about any symptoms or conditions you have and discuss the use of herbal supplements. It's important to remember that herbal supplements are not subject to FDA regulation and, therefore, have not been tested in any FDA-approved clinical trial to demonstrate their effectiveness in treating or managing medical conditions. This is because herbal supplements are not subject to clinical trials or to the same manufacturing standards as prescription or traditional over-the-counter drugs. Herbal supplements, unlike medications, don't have to be standardized to ensure consistency from batch to batch.
If symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headache, or upset stomach occur, reduce the dose or stop taking the herbal supplement.
