Are herbal supplements making you sick?
November 8th, 2013The New York Times article titled, “Herbal Supplements Are Often Not What They Seem” reported the findings of a Canadian study which found that many herbal supplements are made of powdered rice and weeds. They took samples from herbal supplement bottles and put them under DNA analysis. One third did not have the herb stated on the label. Many of them contained ingredients that were not even listed on the label such as rice, soybean and black walnut. For people with food allergies, of which many are allergic to soy and nuts, this could prove potentially fatal.
The herbal supplement industry is not closely regulated by the FDA. Consequently, we should all be wary about taking them. In my own practice, I advise people that if they are considering homeopathic medicine, they should use the natural form of the herbs. For example instead of taking a pill containing garlic to boost the HDL (“good”) cholesterol, I advise people to incorporate garlic into their diets. Even if the pills did containing real garlic, the potency of many herbal medications can easily be affected by the manufacturing process and how the bottles were stored. The fewer the number of steps between the plant and your body, the more beneficial it will be for your body. For instance, look at an apple. After you cut it open, it starts to turn brown from oxidation in a matter of minutes. Now think about that pill supposedly containing herbal medications sitting on the store shelf for a few months. Are you going to get any health benefits from it? Perhaps. Though probably not as much as you think. If you are going to use herbal supplements, be sure to let your primary care provider know what you are taking. Many herbs can interact with prescription medications.
Despite the message of many advertisements for herbal supplements, there is no quick fix to instant health and wellness. I believe that first and foremost, we should be eating balanced diets rich in antioxidants found in colorful fruits and vegetables and good fats such as olive oil. We should also be mindful of calories and exercise regularly. Herbal supplements should never be a substitute for these basic (and cheap) fundamentals to good health. Instead of spending that $100 per month on those herbal supplement pills, use that money on a gym membership or buy fresh fruits and vegetables from a local farmer’s market. You will feel better, and make lifestyle changes that will have long-lasting effects.
