Take care in selecting herbal products, Elmer advises

Throughout the world and throughout history, plants and plant products have been valued for their medicinal purposes. As the oldest health-care products, medicinal plants are gaining popularity, even in the time of modern medicine. As more people turn to herbal medicines for potential health benefits, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of their usage.

“Herbal medicines really do have a place in our armamentarium of drugs,” explains Dr. Gary Elmer, associate professor of medicinal chemistry at the UW School of Pharmacy. “Yet we have to be careful in selecting which herbal products we use and be aware of potential adverse effects — just as we do with any drug.”

Echinacea, saw palmetto, ginkgo, garlic and St. John’s wort are among the top-selling herbal medicine products in the United States. Sales of herbal medicines as dietary supplements have increased tremendously, by approximately 30 to 40 percent in the United States during the past five years. Estimates are that one-third of American adults have used an alternative medicine treatment, such as herbal products.

In the United States, herbal products are not tightly regulated. Although consumers may consider them for medicinal use, they can only be sold as dietary supplements. And since approval from the Food and Drug Administration is not needed to produce and sell dietary supplements, there is no regulatory body proving their efficacy.

“Companies cannot make therapeutic claims about herbal products unless they have been approved by the FDA,” Elmer notes.

Because of the lack of regulation, Elmer cautions that there can be many unknowns when it comes to selecting and purchasing herbal products.

“The biggest single problem with herbal products is the lack of quality control,” Elmer says. “There’s no way to know if a product actually contains what it says it does or that it’s really producing any significant health effects.”

When purchasing herbal medicines, Elmer recommends carefully studying the packaging. Labels should list the composition (amount of herb per tablet), ingredients, recommended usage and adult intake, cautions, manufacture date and expiration date.

Elmer explains research has shown that large discrepancies can exist in the actual amount of herbs contained in various brands.

“Patients may be receiving an increased dosage or, in some cases, taking products that don’t contain the herb at all,” he says.

Herbal products can also interfere with the absorption and effectiveness of other medications. Elmer cautions people to check with their health care provider for possible herbal/drug interactions.

Elmer offers the following tips when selecting herbal products: