Summary
Herbs such as St. Johns Wort and ginkgo are being used more and more by consumers these days. In fact, about 1 out of 5 adults use them. Experts are now warning consumers that they might not be getting exactly what they think they are buying due to a lack of herbal regulations. Despite complaints, supplements are still being regulated like foods instead of drugs so they have different safety and effectiveness rules.
Original source:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-01-12-non-traditional-medicine_x.htm
Details
Non-traditional medicine is no fad By Marilyn Elias, USA TODAY So-called alternative medicine is in the mainstream: More than one-third of adults use it, but popularity has raced ahead of research on benefits and dangers, as well as action to protect consumers, says a federal report out Wednesday.
There are many alternate health practices, from herbs and acupuncture to homeopathic products, chiropractic care and yoga.
Insurance usually won't cover them, so Americans are spending more than $30 billion a year out of pocket to get them, says Stuart Bondurant, a dean at Georgetown University Medical Center.
He chaired the Institute of Medicine expert panel asked to report on key research and policy questions by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which is part of the National Institutes of Health.
A 1994 law authorized the Food and Drug Administration to set "good manufacturing practices" for supplement makers.
The agency also can fine companies that don't meet standards, or even shut them down, says Mark Blumenthal of the American Botanical Council, an independent non-profit that promotes responsible use of herbs.
The FDA published proposed rules in 2003 but has not issued final guidelines.
Some herbs can be dangerous when taken with traditional medicines, and about two-thirds of Americans using alternative therapies don't tell their doctors, according to Eisenberg's studies.
The IOM panel says the 1994 law needs to be amended to strengthen quality control and consumer protection.
Even if the current law were fully enforced, it wouldn't yield enough information, Bondurant says.
But Blumenthal says expecting the
FDA to take on new responsibilities is unrealistic: "They lack the manpower, the expertise and the budget to deal with herbal safety issues."
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a passion for teaching people how to improve their health He has authored more than 1,800 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, and he has published numerous courses on preparedness and survival, including financial preparedness, emergency food supplies, urban survival and tactical self-defense. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In mid 2010, Adams produced TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video sharing website offering user-generated videos on nutrition, green living, fitness and more. He's also the CEO of a highly successful email newsletter software company that develops software used to send permission email campaigns to subscribers. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and practices nature photography, Capoeira, martial arts and organic gardening. Known as the 'Health Ranger,' Adams' personal health statistics and mission statements are located at www.HealthRanger.org
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Wednesday, February 02, 2005
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