Herbal supplements

Nursing, Dec 2004

What are herbal supplements?

Made from herbs or plants, herbal supplements are added to the diet for health purposes. Although they're not considered drugs or medicines, some herbal supplements work the same way as drugs and can have harmful as well as helpful effects.

Why should I tell my health care provider that I use herbal supplements?

Herbal products can cause health problems if you don't use them correctly or take too much. Herbal supplements can also cause problems when combined with drugs you're taking. For example, St. John's wort, an herbal supplement taken for depression, interacts with anesthesia. So if you're having surgery and you use St. John's wort, your health care provider will probably want you to stop taking it 2 weeks before surgery.

Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should talk with their health care provider before taking herbal supplements because some of them may harm the baby.

Tell your health care provider about all medicines and supplements you're taking-including prescription and over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements-so your treatment is safe and effective.

Are herbal supplements regulated?

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates herbal and other dietary supplements as foods, not as drugs. This means that they don't have to meet the same high standards as drugs for proof of safety, effectiveness, and quality. For example, a manufacturer can sell an herbal product without proving that it works.

The labels on herbal products may not be complete or accurate. The active ingredients in many herbal supplements aren't known, and in some cases, what's in the bottle and what's on the label are different. In the past, some herbal supplements have been contaminated with metals, drugs, and germs.

Any claim a manufacturer makes about an herbal supplement's effect must be followed by the words "This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease." Check labels and avoid products that promise to cure specific health problems.

How can I take herbal supplements safely?

Follow these tips and precautions:

* Talk with your health care provider before using any herbal product, especially if you're taking another medicine, even a nonprescription drug, or if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. Don't take herbal products for a serious medical condition without talking with your health care provider first.

* Talk with a licensed pharmacist or other health care professional if you have questions about an herbal supplement. Remember that clerks at health food stores are salespeople, not health care professionals.

* Read labels carefully. Buy only supplements that are approved by the American Botanical Council's Commission E, an expert committee that evaluates the safety and efficacy of herbal products. Commission E monographs are available at http:// www.herbalgram.org/iherb/commissione/index.htm.

* Buy products from a reputable herbal company. Be cautious about products for sale through magazines, brochures, Ty radio, or the Internet.

* Learn more about herbal supplements from reputable sources.

SELECTED REFERENCES

Fetrow, C., and Avila, J.: Professional's Handbook of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 3rd edition. Ambler, Pa., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004.

Nursing2004 Herbal Medicine Handbook, 2nd edition. Ambler. Pa., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2004.