Herbal Supplements are very popular, but are they safe? People use Echinacea to prevent colds, Gingko improves your memory and Flaxseed is supposed to lower your cholesterol. Herbal supplements have been used for thousands of years, but are they safe? They are not as strictly regulated as medication. Herbal Supplements don’t have to get approval from the FDA before being put on the market like other medications. Even though these products are all natural, they can still have drug like effects if they are strong enough to do things like lower your cholesterol or improve your memory.
Before you begin taking herbal supplements, you should check with your doctor. All herbal supplements might not be safe for all people. Some herbal supplements may not be safe, especially if you take other medications or have chronic health problems. It is always a good idea to consult a doctor before you take anything if you are pregnant or nursing.
Herbal supplements do have regulations; they just aren’t the same as medications. The manufacturers of herbal supplements do not have to have FDA approval before they are put on the market, and they can make any claim that they want about their products as long as they also include a disclaimer that the FDA has not evaluated their claim. They must have good manufacturing practices and meet quality standards, and once they are on the market the FDA is responsible for making sure they are safe and can even go so far as to pull a supplement off the market if it is considered unsafe.
Herbal supplements are monitored, but just because they are monitored doesn’t mean that they are safe for anyone to use, and that is why it is extremely important to talk to your doctor before beginning an herbal supplement regimen. Taking a combination of different herbal supplements together or with medicine you are already taking can lead to harmful results. If you want to start on an herbal regimen, the most important thing is talk to your doctor and make sure it will be a safe regimen for you.