•  Herbs & Supplements •  Risky Herbs & Supplements

Shopping for dietary supplements can be like stepping into a wild frontier with few rules and fewer enforcers. Since the federal government doesn't regulate herbs and supplements as it does prescription and over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies don't have to go through rigorous testing or display labels with consumer warnings.

That said, not every supplement lives up to its promises, and various types can contain vastly different amounts of the same ingredients. While some herbs and supplements are time-tested and useful, others are of no value and a few pose serious threats. Part of the multi-billion herb and supplements industry is built on hucksterism and unsubstantiated claims, and you can't always trust labels, Internet sites that sell supplements, or even well-meaning clerks at health food stores to set you straight.

There are some experts who are looking out for you and some reliable sources that can help you stay healthy and safe.

One valuable resource for anyone interested in dietary supplements is Medwatch, a government site that lists dangers and warnings on a wide variety of supplements, prescription drugs, and medical devices. Medwatch is designed for doctors, but you don't need to have MD after your name to use the site. Just click on "Safety Information" and you'll find up-to-date, easy-to-understand information on some of the biggest dangers posed by supplements.

For example, Medwatch tells you that "club drugs" and purported muscle-building and sex-enhancing products that contain GBL (gamma butyrolactone) can cause coma, seizures, and death, and "herbal fen-phen" weight-loss products can cause insomnia, nervousness, high blood pressure, even heart attack and stroke. While you're at it, check any over-the-counter products marketed as having similar effects.

Medwatch is also a great place to get the real scoop on Internet rumors. Perhaps you've heard that some tampons contain asbestos and dioxin and that rayon fibers cause toxic-shock syndrome. Medwatch has reassuring news: These statements are completely without foundation.

For more information on dietary supplements, consider the following sources:

•Natural Pharmacist: Your Complete Guide to Vitamins and Supplements, Angelo De Palma, Prima Lifestyles, 1999

•Rational Phytotherapy: A Physician's Guide to Herbal Medicine (4th edition), Haworth Press, 2001.

•The Pharmacist's Letter Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. This encyclopedic resource, available in print and on the Web, contains reliable data on over 1,000 herbs and non-herbal products. The database describes common uses, effectiveness, safety, and interactions with drugs, food, and other supplements. http://www.naturaldatabase.com.

•The Food and Drug Administration Food Information Line. 800-FDA-4010 (202-205-4314 in the Washington, D.C. area).

-- Chris Woolston, M.S., is a health and medical writer with a master's degree in biology. He is a contributing editor at Consumer Health Interactive, and was the staff writer at Hippocrates, a magazine for physicians. He has also covered science issues for Time Inc. Health, WebMD, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. His reporting on occupational health earned him an award from the northern California Society of Professional Journalists.

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First published January 26, 2000
Last updated November 9, 2007
Copyright © 2000 Consumer Health Interactive

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