“Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe
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Posted On :
Jul-06-2011
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Article Word Count :
532
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To examine the details of how and why natural supplements work we have to reduce our focus to a specific herb.
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People are taking over-the-counter herbs (considered a form of dietary supplement) in greater numbers than ever before. You, or someone you know, may be taking one right now. People take herbs for many reasons from general health improvement to care of chronic conditions, including back pain. According to US News and World Report, Congress’ General Accounting Office estimated consumer spending for dietary supplements and functional foods to be about $31 billion in1999.
“Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe
Like prescription medicines, herbs can have benefits. However, like prescriptions, they can also have unwanted side effects, cause drug interactions and possibly create surgical problems. Large doses of herbs (the belief that “if one is good, more must be better”) can be dangerous.
Many herbs have drug-like effects on the body. The many chemical components in herbal products may have varied strengths based on plant genetics, plant parts and growing conditions. Herbs have many components that may also work together differently based on harvesting, processing or packaging. Contamination also can take place during production. For example, heavy metals have been found in some Asian herbal products. Even herbs that are generally safe can be dangerous or have side effects under the wrong conditions. For instance, herbs can act together with anesthesia or other medicines commonly used in surgery or affect the operation itself, causing surgical complications.
Drug-herb interactions unrelated to surgery are also common. Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects and are not safe for everyone. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), roughly 15 million adults are at risk for possible adverse interactions between prescription medicines and herbs or high dose vitamins. More than 2900 adverse events related to supplements have been reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including 104 deaths. The FDA estimates that for each report it receives, there are 100 more it doesn’t. Much of the material in this pamphlet can be found in the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition document, Tips for the Savvy Supplement User: Making Informed Decisions and Evaluating Information.
Should I Ask My Doctor Before Using a Supplement?
Checking with your doctor before taking a supplement is a good idea, especially for certain people. Dietary supplements including herbs may not be risk-free under certain circumstances. If you are pregnant, nursing a baby or have a chronic medical condition (such as diabetes, hypertension or heart disease) consult your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing or taking any supplement. While vitamin and mineral supplements are widely used and generally considered safe for children, you may wish to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving these or any other dietary supplement to your child. If you plan to use a dietary supplement in place of drugs or together with any drug, tell your health care provider first. If you have certain health conditions and take these products, you may be placing yourself at risk. Bring your herbal or other dietary supplements with you to doctor visits. Your health care provider can review your supplements with you and tell you about any possible problems or risks.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_“Natural” Doesn’t Always Mean Safe_65249.aspx
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Author Resource :
Volume pills and Vimax Pills.
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Keywords :
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Category :
Health and Fitness
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Health and Fitness
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