{"id":500,"date":"2016-09-01T07:59:46","date_gmt":"2016-09-01T14:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/moore\/?p=500"},"modified":"2024-04-12T11:52:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T18:52:53","slug":"herbal-supplements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/moore\/herbal-supplements\/","title":{"rendered":"Are herbal supplements right for you?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wow! Is it possible? Ginseng slows aging, increases mental capacity, and increases sexual performance.  Stinging nettle has been thought to fight urinary tract infections, kidney and bladder stones, and rheumatism1,4<\/sup>. Echinacea is used to prevent colds.  This all sounds pretty great! But what are the promoters of herbal supplements not telling us?<\/p>\n

What is an herbal supplement?<\/h3>\n

\"herbsAn herbal supplement is a product made from plants (\u201cbotanicals\u201d) and can be ingested as a pill, brewed as herbal tea, applied to the skin as gels, or added to bath water4<\/sup>. Herbal supplements are not intended to replace a healthy diet.<\/strong> Herbal supplements typically aim to treat medical problems, maintain health, or offer some physical benefit. However, unlike drugs, supplements are <\/strong>\u201cnot intended to treat, diagnose, prevent, or cure diseases.\u201d1<\/a><\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

How are they regulated?<\/h3>\n

While herbal supplements may look similar to over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications, they are not treated the same by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Herbal supplements fall under the category called dietary supplements under the FDA, and are regulated differently from drugs1<\/sup>. The biggest difference you\u2019ll see is that prescription and OTC drugs are strictly regulated before <\/em><\/strong>entering the market, but herbal supplements are only monitored after<\/em><\/strong> they enter the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nFDA <\/strong>Dietary Supplement regulations<\/a><\/th>\nFDA <\/strong>Drug regulations<\/a><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Quality Control<\/strong><\/td>\nManufacturers and distributors are responsible for following the current Good Manufacturing Process by ensuring their products are not contaminated, have impurities, or are misbranded.<\/td>\nSame as dietary supplements.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Safety<\/strong><\/td>\nOnly after<\/em><\/strong> the supplement is on the market can the FDA monitor its safety. Dietary supplement firms are required to report to the FDA any serious adverse events that are reported to them by consumers or health care professionals. If the FDA finds a product to be unsafe, they can take action against the manufacturer or the distributor, and may issue a warning or require that the product be removed from the market.<\/td>\nBefore<\/em><\/strong> a drug can go on the market, companies must perform a series of clinical trials in humans, in which the FDA monitors, to test if the drug is effective and safe. If the review establishes that the benefits outweigh the known risks, the drug is approved for sale. Once on the market, the FDA monitors its performance through MedWatch<\/a>, healthcare practitioners, and pharmaceutical companies. If an unexpected drug-related health risk is detected, a Drug Safety Communication may be issued to consumers and healthcare professionals.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Labeling<\/strong><\/td>\nManufacturers and distributers of dietary ingredients are responsible for making sure they meet all of the safety and labeling requirements for DSHEA and FDA regulations. Label approval is not required<\/em><\/strong> in order to import or distribute a dietary supplement.<\/td>\nAll data collected is sent to the FDA, in which a team of scientists and professionals review the data and proposed labeling. All changes to a drug\u2019s label must be approved by FDA<\/em><\/strong>. <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Health Claims<\/strong><\/td>\nLaw does not require<\/em><\/strong> the manufacturer or seller to prove the FDA\u2019s satisfaction with the accuracy or truthfulness of claims before it appears on the product.<\/td>\nClaims are required<\/em> <\/strong>to review data and be evaluated by a team of physicians, statisticians, toxicologists, pharmacologists, chemists, and other scientists to before it is labeled with the health claim.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h3>\n

\"allThe FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) keeps track of all of the reports<\/a> received for drugs and herbal supplements that cause adverse effects. The total amount of received reports for the year 2014 was 1,289,133.<\/p>\n

\u201cNatural\u201d does not mean \u201cSafe\u201d<\/h3>\n

Anything strong enough to have effects like \u201cenhancing mood\u201d and \u201clowering cholesterol\u201d is strong enough to have other effects on your body2<\/a><\/sup>. Supplements can interact with other medications to make them ineffective, and even harmful, such as certain heart medications like warfarin, digoxin, simvastatin, and atorvastatin6<\/sup>. Some herbs can cause serious damage your organs, such as your kidneys (aristolochia)7<\/sup> or liver (kava, pennyroyal)8<\/sup>. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start taking any herbal supplements.<\/p>\n

Common Herbal Supplement Claims and Potential Risks3,4<\/a><\/sup><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Herbal Supplement<\/strong><\/th>\nHealth Claims <\/strong><\/th>\nPotential Risks<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Echinacea<\/strong><\/td>\nStimulates the immune system to help cure colds, flu, and other infections; wounds and skin problems such as acne or boils<\/td>\nFatigue, dizziness, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Garlic<\/strong><\/td>\nTo lower cholesterol; to prevent and treat colds and certain infections<\/td>\nIncreases the risk of bleeding when taken with blood thinning drugs. Nausea, burning sensation in mouth, throat, and stomach, halitosis, and body odor.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ginkgo<\/strong><\/td>\nTo improve memory, circulation, and mental function as well as prevent altitude sickness<\/td>\nIncreases risk of excess bleeding when taken with blood thinning drugs. Nausea, dyspepsia, headache, and heart palpitations<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ginseng<\/strong><\/td>\nSlows aging, increases mental capacity, and increases sexual performance<\/td>\nAnorexia, rash, changes in blood pressure, and headache<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
St. John\u2019s Wort<\/strong><\/td>\nTo treat mental disorders and nerve pain; malaria; as a sedative; and as a balm for wounds, burns, and insect bites. Today used for depression, anxiety, and\/or sleep disorders<\/td>\nPhotosensitivity, dry mouth, dizziness, anxiety, confusion, gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual dysfunction. Several adverse reactions with medications.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Licorice Root<\/strong><\/td>\nTo treat cough, cirrhosis, and stomach ulcers<\/td>\nMay increase blood pressure and has been associated with heart rhythm abnormalities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hawthorn<\/strong><\/td>\nTo alleviate congestive heart failure and high blood pressure<\/td>\nIncrease risk of bleeding when taken with blood-thinning drugs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Goldenseal<\/strong><\/td>\nTo alleviate constipation, acts as an anti-inflammatory<\/td>\nMay decrease or increase blood pressure. May cause heart rhythm abnormalities. Increases risk of bleeding when taken with blood-thinning drugs.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ephedra<\/strong><\/p>\n

Other names: Chinese ephedra, ma huang<\/strong><\/p>\n

**Has been banned by the FDA from the market<\/td>\n

To treat cough and obesity<\/td>\nLife threatening increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Potentially has fatal interactions with many cardiac medicines.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

For more information about other herbs, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you are considering buying an herbal supplement5<\/a><\/sup>:<\/h3>\n