|
Nature's Remedies By Marge Pearson, R.N.
The use of herbal medicines or supplements
is widespread. Ads in print and on TV make claims about the
benefits of using various products. Consumers wanting to know
more about these products are faced with a large volume of conflicting
information.
Opinions about the use of herbal medicines also vary among different
health care providers. Medical professionals are aware that
patients are interested in using these products and are currently
using them to prevent or treat a number of symptoms or conditions.
Individual practitioners and professional organizations are
taking steps to educate themselves and their patients about
risks and benefits of commonly used herbal products. Though
such groups show a willingness to add this method of treatment
to the choices they offer patients, they continue to urge caution.
The medical community also stresses the need to base any decisions
to use an herb on information gained through controlled research
studies when it is available.
Safeguards for using botanical products
Several questions should be addressed before making a decision
about using an herbal product.
1) Consider the nature and source of any claims being made about
a product.
- What is the reported effect of this product?
- What is the producer's level of knowledge
and experience in the use of herbs?
- What
biases might the producer have?
2) Consider the quality of the product.
-
Does the product contain the ingredients
listed on the label, or have there been substitutions or additions?
- Has an effective dose been determined?
- Are you able to determine how much product
you need to achieve this dose?
- Is there pesticide residue or other contaminants
present in the product?
3) What do scientific groups have to say about
this product?
- Have any controlled studies been done that back up the claims
being made? (It is hard to determine what effect a product will
have on the basis of a few selected cases.)
- Can people respond differently to the product?
- What side effects have been documented?
- Are there any reports of problems occurring when the herb was
taken with prescription or nonprescription medicines?
- How does this product compare with prescription or over-the-counter
medicines used to produce the same effects?
- How does the cost of the product compare with prescription and
non-prescriptions medicines used to treat the same conditions
when taken in the recommended amounts?
4) Have your consulted your physician before
using any herbal products?
- Is the problem or condition one that should be self-treated?
(This is especially important when using a product to treat
a symptom or condition for which you are already taking medications.
There is also the possibility of drug/ herb interaction.)
- Some herbs can increase the risk of bleeding, so you need to
let all physicians and dentists treating you know if you are
using and herbal products.
- Are there any serious side effects or interactions with foods
or medicines?
- Are there any individuals who should not take the product such
as children, pregnant or nursing women, and the elderly?
- Is there the potential for an allergic reaction in persons who
suffer from hay fever or other allergies?
The ability to finds answers to the above questions is limited
by some important ways in which herbal or botanical products
differ from manufactured medicines. Before a drug company is
allowed to introduce a new drug, a series of research trials
are required to prove a drug is safe and effective. This type
of research also provides information on the correct dosage
of a drug and on the risks or side effects. However, this type
of research is not required for herbal products and therefore
is not often done.
Herbal products and dietary supplements have less stringent
regulations concerning their marketing and quality control measures.
With prescription and nonprescription drugs, it is the responsibility
of the drug company to prove that a drug is safe and effective.
The Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 only
requires that a company not claim the product can be used to
treat, cure, or prevent an illness or condition and that the
company add a warning that any claims made have not been reviewed
by the U.S. FDA. A product can only be removed from the market
if the U.S. FDA can show that it is harmful. The Act does not
outline standards for insuring quality, nor does it require
a manufacturer to prove the herbal product is safe or effective.
Lack of quality control measures can lead to variation between
products made by different manufacturers. Many factors influence
the amount of active ingredient(s) in an herbal product. These
factors include the conditions under which the plant was grown
and harvested and how the plant was processed to produce the
product. Contaminants may also be present from pesticides and
herbicides.
A common belief among users of herbal products is that such
products are better than manufactured medicines because they
are "natural." However, this is not always the case. While research
has shown that some herbs are safe and effective, other herbs
are known to be toxic or have serious side effects. One should
use the same degree of care when deciding to take herbal products
that he or she would use in selecting nonprescription medicines.
Though our current state of knowledge on the subject makes this
task more difficult, more widespread interest in the use of
alternative methods of treatment should improve the situation.
While this article is meant to be an overview of the subject
only, more information on the subject can be found in the following
resources.
Herbal Medicine Resources
Organizations:
1. American Botanical Council
http://www.herbalgram.org/
Ph # (512) 331-8868
A nonprofit organization formed to educate the public about
the benefits of herbs and plants and to promote their safe and
effective use
2. American Herbalist Guild
http://www.healthy.net/herbalists/
A self-described peer review organization for herbalists
3. Herb Research Foundation
http://www.herbs.org/hrinfo.html
Ph # (303) 449-2265
4. The University of Texas Center for Alternative Medicine
http://www.uth.tmc.edu/utcam/
Books:
1. The Green Pharmacy by James A. Duke, Ph.D. Rondall Press,
1997
2. Herbal Remedies for Dummies by Christopher Hobbs IDG Books,
1998
3. Tyler's Herbs of Choice by James E. Robbers, Ph.D. & Varro
E. Tyler, Ph.D., Sc.D. Haworth Herbal Press, 1999
4. Tyler's Honest Herbal (4th edition) by Steven Foster & Varro
E. Tyler, Ph.D. Haworth Herbal Press, 1999
5. What the Labels Won't Tell You by Logan Chamberlain, Ph.
D Interweave Press, Inc. 1998
|
