Tips In Buying Safe Herbal Supplements

Herbal and nutritional products are health supplements that are derived from plants, and are touted to help treat and/or prevent diseases. However, when a herbal supplement is marketed as "natural" on the labels, it doesn't totally ensure its safety, efficacy, or purity.

Although there are herbal products that have been tested to possess health benefits, some have potentially harmful effects to users. Market observers note that there are an estimated 18 million adults who use herbs in some form, and the sale of these supplements continues to quickly rise.

Herbal Supplements Help Augment Your Diet

It is a fact that most herbal medications help to augment your diet. However, given the scarcity of controls and lax industry regulations, it would be considered a gamble to trust that any herbal dietary or nutritious supplements you may take will contain all the ingredients and would give the same intensity as it may claim. This is sad fact, as billions are spent on these products that may, for all we know, have only fillers or starch in them, and we often hear a lot of horror stories regarding herbal supplement fraud and hoaxes.

Exercise Extra Caution When Choosing A Herbal Medication

According to health safety advisers, many claims about herbal products are often based on folklore or hearsay instead of proven scientific studies. It is vital for consumers to read reliable information and research on unbiased sources of research, whenever possible.

Since herbal supplements are not standardized, the same herb or plant material may be found in different products and in varying amounts and this could be quite dangerous, as it may lead to toxic levels that can cause dangerous reactions in the body. It would be wise not to assume that "natural" would mean product is outright safe to take. If you are pondering on using herbal treatments as an alternative to prescription drugs, you need to be certain that the supplements you are taking meet quality standards and are not fly-by-night stuff.

Tips In The Properly Use Of Herbal Medications

- Do not take herbal supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as there is no way to verify what level of herbs may be harmful to a fetus or nursing infant.

- Always remember not to give herbal products to children under 3 years of age. Always consult with your child's pediatrician first.

- Do not apply self-treatment methods to serious medical conditions with medicinal herbs.

- Purchase herbal supplements that display an expiration date, as well as a lot or batch number.

- The herbal product should state which part of the plant was utilized, such as root, leaf, or blossom.

- If a blend of ingredients is used in a herbal medication, the label should list the individual ingredients as well as the amount used.

Be Sure A Supplement Is FDA-Approved

Although you usually purchase herbal medications that have been tested by one of these organizations, and you see a seal or certificate, or the approval by the FDA, you simply cannot rely on these products for counteracting poor and unhealthy habits. You should remember that there is no medication that will work as well as changing your dietary lifestyle.


Source: http://EzineArticles.com Vanessa_A._Doctor