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By Marianne Kobak
Many consumers are turning to herbal or natural remedies for their ailments today instead of science, and they decide which dietary supplements to take based on word of mouth. They follow the advice of their friends and neighbors instead of asking a doctor, pharmacist or herbalist about the herbs they should take. Herbal supplements aren't nearly as scrutinized as common cold medicine because Congress gave in to deregulating nutritional supplements five years ago. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 has stripped authority from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over most products labeled "supplement," as long as the product makes no claims to affect a disease, according to Consumer Reports magazine. The promise of herbal products and their purported benefits has spread quickly through media reports and commercial advertisements. But as consumers become hooked on treatments purely for their "natural" appeal, they may not realize that none of these popular herbs have been clinically proved effective at anything.
Her roommate's mother was concerned that Murphy's health was suffering from the rigors of college life - late nights, junk food, drinking and stress. "They felt that herbs could put your whole body into sync, and I was interested in seeing if that was what they did," Murphy says. Family also can play an influential role in determining health care. Mary Munroe, a sophomore geography major, was introduced to herbal medicine by her mother. "My brother got sick all the time. My mom talked to a lot of doctors, and they suggested trying echinacea," Munroe says. "Once it helped him, I started using it. "If I feel a cold coming on I start taking echinacea. I haven't been really sick all winter. If I do catch a cold, it only lasts for about three days." Other students trust the advice of their friends. Cathy Scalzo, a junior radio and television production major, says she began using herbs when a co-worker recommended them. Teri Girrelli, a senior secondary education major and hammer thrower, says athletes trust the recommendations of other athletes, many of whom use herbs to stimulate recovery. "Ginseng is one of the most common I hear about," Girrelli says. "And there is a good mix of male and female athletes who take them." But most people don't know that dietary supplements are not tested by the FDA, and the concentration of the active ingredients is not regulated. Dr. Irema Kodz of Ashland Internal Medicine says there are several types of ginseng, many with varying potency. "People think that all ginseng works in the same way, but some types can be harmful to people with high blood pressure," Kodz says. "Siberian ginseng can raise blood pressure." Kodz says another problem with herbs is the different companies that distribute them. "I believe in alternative medications," Kodz says. "Herbal medicine is much older than other medications. Different companies are trying to put them in the market and there are no regulations on how many milligrams to put in the medicine or how much to take." As more companies enter the market for herbs, consumers fall prey to vague advertising. Arlene Holbert, a certified natural health professional in Barberton who studies the effects of herbs on the human body, says consumers are easily fooled by the level of purity they're buying. "You may buy something that says 100 percent golden seal, and the golden seal that is in the pill may only be 3 percent pure, but the rest is not golden seal," Holbert says. Many herbs today, such as St. John's wort, echinacea, ginseng and ginkgo biloba, are gaining popularity through advertisements and news stories. Some of these herbs are being endorsed by athletes, but the advertisements don't seem to contain enough information for consumers to make educated decisions. "Everybody thinks St. John's wort is the perfect one for them, and it may not be," Holbert says. Scalzo says she thought she could curb her mood swings with St. John's wort, but she didn't notice a substantial difference when she started taking it. Consumers should consult a knowledgeable source before taking a dietary supplement. "A lot of over-the-counter herbs pass by a lot of the regulatory procedures because they are seen as vitamins," Shellie Lepucki, a Kent Giant Eagle pharmacist says. "You have to be careful. Some herbs, like St. John's wort, have side effects." Clinical studies in Europe found that St. John's wort may be useful in cases of mild to moderate depression and caused fewer side effects than did standard drugs, according to Consumer Reports. Some reported side effects of St. John's wort are dizziness, dry mouth and increased sensitivity to sunlight. A person who is photosensitive is more easily sunburned and may have to wear sunscreen to avoid severe skin damage. "A lot of people ask about St. John's wort," says Kristy Mulneix, a junior gerontology major and Kent CVS pharmacy technician. "I see more older people asking advice on herbs than younger people. Young people seem to just want something to make them feel better quickly. But older people seem to want something that will make them feel better and make them healthier." When people see the word "natural" on a product, they may assume the product will not harm them. "A person needs to know which part of the herb to take, the optimum dose to take and the side effects of the herb," Amer Mikati, a Kent CVS pharmacist says. "If someone has questions about an herb, a good person to ask would be an herbalist." Supplements have been exempt from evaluation by the FDA since the 1994 legislation. That means herbs can be put on the market with little or no approval, and they can remain there unless there is evidence that the herb or other supplement is harmful when taken as directed. The FDA must prove a supplement is harmful before it will be taken off the shelves. According to the Harvard Women's Health Watch newsletter, in 1989 an epidemic of eosinophilia myalgia syndrome - a dangerous immune system disorder - was caused by contaminants in L-tryptophan. About 1,500 people reportedly became seriously ill, and 36 people died from the disease. Unlike pharmaceutical prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs, supplements are not inspected by the FDA to see if their ingredients are pure. If there are impurities in a supplement, it may take the FDA weeks to identify the contaminants, track down the source and remove all unsafe products from the market, according to Women's Health Watch. Germany is one of the few countries that tests the effectiveness of herbs. Commission E, the FDA equivalent, publishes reports on herbs that are widely used in Germany. Translations of those reports are located in the scientific database Medline. St. John's wort was one of the herbs studied in Germany. Some manufacturers suggest people take one capsule three times a day and others suggest taking two to three capsules three times a day. "Nothing heals in under three months," Holbert says. "By taking herbs you are giving your body what it needs to heal." Maria Laing, a visiting registered nurse in Ashland County, has been taking herbs for three years. She says she rejects modern medications. Laing uses herbs as a preventative form of medicine. Before taking herbs, she researches the supplements through pamphlets and other sources. Her distributor has a fax number its customers can call to learn about the herbs they are taking. "I would especially urge people to take herbs from reputable groups," Laing says. "Herb companies don't always use the same concentrates. Sometimes you could get something that may harm you, or you may not be getting anything." Elisabeth Wilmott, one of the owners of Kent Natural Foods Cooperative, has discouraged people from buying herbs if they plan to use them incorrectly. "I have urged people not to buy herbs because of the way they were going to use them," Willmott says. Many factors will affect the way an herb works on an individual. Each person needs to know what his or her symptoms are, what specific herbs are used for specific ailments and what his or her body type is because each of these conditions can affect the way an herb works. "Guarana is one of the herbs that makes me nervous," Willmott says. "It is an appetite suppressant, and I have seen people who take it not eat anything nutritional. I have seen it work, but you have to be careful that you are still getting what you need." Golden seal is another powerful herb that is used as an antibiotic and is supposed to have blood-cleansing properties. "People don't know how to take it," Willmott says. "If you take it for more than two weeks, it could be harmful to your liver." One of the myths about golden seal is that it will help you pass drug tests. "It will not help you defeat a blood test," Willmott says. "In fact, some companies are testing for golden seal to see if you are trying to defeat the test. "A good guide is to look for herbs that are more like food." Holbert says your own body does the curing. "You use herbs as special foods to build your immune system so your body can heal itself." Scalzo has mixed opinions about dietary supplements. "In some cases I think herbs help, but I am really skeptical to think that all herbs work," Scalzo says. "I think that it could be psychological. You really have to be careful because herbs haven't been approved by the FDA and the long-term effects are unknown." Licorice, garlic, parsley and chamomile are examples of herbs considered as food. But consumers must be careful even when taking these herbs because they could still have adverse reactions, especially people allergic to those foods. "It is up to the person to educate themselves," Holbert says. "If someone is going to self-medicate, they need to be willing to read." Women's Health Watch suggests that consumers follow three guidelines before Consumers should also talk to their doctor before taking a dietary supplement. Many doctors have information about dietary supplements, and they can report side effects their patients might experience. "People won't tell their doctors if they are taking herbs, so you need to dig the information out of them," Kodz says. She almost always asks her patients if they are taking any alternative medications. "Nature is good, but you can make a poison from nature, too." In treating the human body, Holbert favors elements found in nature over any modern medicine. "Plants should be our first line of defense," Holbert says. "We need to strengthen our bodies, and drugs should be the last resort." |
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