Herb Safety and Making Smart Choices With Herbal Supplements

Sometimes I meet a patient who is reluctant to take herbal supplements because they are concerned about herb safety. I understand this reluctance when there is so much negative press about the use of herbal supplements. My intention is to provide some background about regulation of the herbal supplement industry and how to be smart when making choices about herbal supplements. 

Currently in the United States, federal regulation of the herbal supplement industry requires no initial approval for the manufacture and sale of herbal supplements. It is only after it reaches the market, after the damage has occurred, the FDA steps into regulate. This lack of initial oversight is what contributes to the negative stories about herbal medicine that we read about in the news. These reports would cause a person or their primary care Medical Doctor to take pause before using or advocating the use of herbal supplements. If not used properly, herbal supplements can result in side effects and can interfere with pharmaceuticals. If a particular manufacturer is not reputable (run by skilled and respected herbalists), established  and transparent, offering information about the sourcing of their ingredients, the likelihood that their products are of lower quality becomes higher.

I prefer not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Herbal medicine is safe, and effective when working with someone who is properly trained and who chooses reputable manufacturers for the sourcing of their supplements or individual herbs. In comparison to pharmaceuticals drugs, herbal supplements result in fewer side effects and are less likely to require a cascade of additional prescriptions to handle those side effects.

Since consumer access to herbal supplements is not regulated, patients interested in pursuing natural remedies should ask questions and do their research regarding their herb suppliers as well as question the advice they receive about herbal supplements (your neighbor’s supplement for increasing energy and vitality may be your one way ticket to a headache or worse). One way to gain assurance about herbal supplements is to work with a trained herbalist that stocks products from a reputable source. A well-trained herbalist will understand how to diagnose, which herbs are appropriate for a particular constitution and condition, what dosage is safe and effective, as well as which herbs could conflict with pharmaceutical prescriptions.

There are several different regulatory boards that license experts in herbal medicine including the California Acupuncture Board, the National Certification Commission for Oriental Medicine and North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. There are also experienced practitioners of herbal medicine, for example, Western herbalists or Ayurvedic herbalists, who do not benefit from a licensing board. For this reason, consumers should ask questions about training, continuing education, years of experience and where supplements are sourced before entering into a relationship with an herbal practitioner.

http://www.fda.gov/food/dietarysupplements/default.htm

http://www.fda.gov/drugs/developmentapprovalprocess/manufacturing/ucm169105.htm

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-aristolochic-acid-urothelial-cancer-20120409,0,7197194.story

http://articles.latimes.com/print/2009/may/25/health/he-supplements-list25

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20120523/some-dietary-supplements-linked-to-liver-damage