Understanding Dietary Supplements

A growing trend - Herbal remedies and botanical extracts have taken a firm hold on
the minds and pocketbooks of millions. Echinacea (immunity booster), gingko biloba (said to aid in memory) and St. John's wort (considered a mood elevator), are just a few of the herbs regularly used by millions of Americans.  It is estimated that $2.5 billion is spent on herbs and
estimates for spending on all food supplements exceed $12 billion
per year. The amount is growing approximately 25 percent per year,
according to studies in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). With the onslaught of advertising for these products, it may be hard to tell just exactly what the difference is between herbs and botanicals and pharmaceuticals.

So What is the Difference?

Botany is the science of plants. The use of plants as medicine is referred to as botanicals and/or botanical medicine. The properties of botanicals are derived from the plant.
Pharmaceuticals are chemical preparations of medication that go through a process of study to determine safety and efficacy and are regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Pharmaceuticals can be obtained either over the counter or by prescription. Some pharmaceuticals are made from plants.

Herbal medicine is the use of plants or plant parts as remedies for aches, pains and illness. Herbs can be sold in a variety of forms - dried, finely chopped, powdered or as liquid in a capsule. Despite the growing popularity of herbs, they are medications and are largely unregulated. Under our current system of drug regulations, herbs are considered "supplements."

Herbal Remedies Used for Many Centuries

Herbal remedies have been used worldwide for thousands of years. In modern times, plants have also made a major contribution to the pharmaceutical industry. As many as one-fourth of pharmaceuticals have botanical origins. Taxol, made from the Pacific Yew tree, is used to treat patients with cancers of the breast and ovary. Vincristine, extracted from the periwinkle plant, is prescribed for lymphoma, leukemia and other cancers.

periwinkle

David M. Eisenberg, MD, and colleagues in "Trends in Alternative Medicine Use in the United States" in JAMA cautioned patients who use these therapies. According to the article, of five patients taking prescription medicine, one is also taking herbs or high-dose vitamins. As many as 40 percent of people not do not report their use of these therapies.

Regulating Herbs

The market for supplements has exploded since the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 eliminated the authority of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate vitamins, herbs and other food-based products. But the FDA is attempting to track adverse reactions to herbs through reports to its MedWatch hotline (800-FDA-1088). The FDA keeps a web site for the reported adverse effects and drug interactions called the FDA Dietary Supplement Information Page.

A final word about saftey

• Tell your health-care team about any herbal products and supplements that you
  are using or are considering for use.
• Trust only reliable sources for information on dietary supplements.
• Check the product labels for both the quantity and concentration of active ingredients contained in each product.
• Stop taking the product immediately and call your doctor if you experience side effects such as wheezing, itching, numbness, or tingling in limbs.
• Use supplements only from manufacturers who maintain pharmaceutical-grade standards for composition and purity.