Are Herbal Products Safe On The Market?

Video: Are Herbal Products Safe On The Market?

Video: Are Herbal Products Safe On The Market?
Video: Herbs and Supplements: Are They Safe? Do They Work? 2024, November
Are Herbal Products Safe On The Market?
Are Herbal Products Safe On The Market?
Anonim

You have probably seen a huge variety of herbal medicines that stand on the shelves of pharmacies and health food stores. Most people believe that herbal medicines or other products that are labeled as natural are completely safe and effective.

Herbal remedies have been around for centuries. But some of them, even those that are advertised as natural, can potentially be dangerous to our health.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates herbal supplements, but not in a way that regulates what is food and what medicine. Herbal medicines are categorized as dietary supplements. The rules for food supplements are not as strict as the rules that apply to food and medicine. For example, herbal supplement manufacturers do not need their products to be FDA approved before they can be placed on the market. Once a dietary supplement is on the market, it is ultimately the responsibility of the FDA as well as to monitor its safety.

However, the FDA does not have enough people or funding to deal with all the new products that are constantly coming on the market. If the FDA considers an herbal supplement to be unsafe, it may issue a warning or require the manufacturer or distributor to withdraw it from the market.

These rules can assure us that herbal supplements meet certain quality standards, and that the FDA can take action to stop unsafe products from being sold. However, these rules do not guarantee consumers that these herbal products are safe to use. This certainly cannot be guaranteed to consumers. These products have not proven their effectiveness.

Many herbal supplements contain powerful active ingredients that have strong narcotic effects on the body that can put you at risk for unexpected health ailments. Some herbal supplements can interact with medications that are taken and can cause harmful, life-threatening complications. Also, research shows that many of these natural remedies do not actually contain the ingredients described on their label, and if so, they usually do not have that effect. In addition, some additives have been contaminated with ingredients such as arsenic.

Homeopathy
Homeopathy

Manufacturers of herbal supplements need to follow good manufacturing practices to ensure that their products are processed consistently and meet quality standards. It must be ensured that the supplements contain the correct ingredients described on their labels and that they are free of contaminants or incorrect ingredients, but this does not always happen.

So how can we protect ourselves and ensure that the herbal product or food supplement we buy is safe, effective and worth our hard-earned money? First of all, before you take any herbal supplementbe sure to discuss the matter with your doctor. Make sure the product is safe and effective before taking it.

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