Do you know what you are putting in
to your body? Many Americans take some form of herbal/dietary supplement, and
many consume them unaware of important information. Rigid quality control
standards are not required for herbal supplements, leaving the sole
responsibility to the companies that produce them to inform consumers of health
risks and other information.
Sold at
Rite-Aid Pharmacies, the popular herb supplement Evening Primrose Oil, under
the brand name “PharmAssure” has neither a description for its uses or any
warnings of side effects. Common belief is that Evening Primrose Oil helps to
cure migraines, aid those afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, help to ease
diabetic neuropathy and much more. However, none of these are printed on the
label, and dosage information is also absent.
Although research has shown that consuming
certain herbal supplements during pregnancy is highly dangerous, no cautionary
statement is on the bottle. Yet two shelves over in the “Nature Made” section,
the warning “It is important to consult a doctor before taking any dietary
supplements” is clearly visible.
Kristen
Fodero, a pharmacist in the Rite Aid located in East Aurora, NY, had little to
no knowledge about Evening Primrose Oil. When the absence of information on the
bottle was brought to her attention, Fodero stated, “I really don’t know much
about it, but what I do know is that the labels are not regulated well. The
companies don’t legally have to put warnings or thorough descriptions on the
labels. Some companies do a better job at it than others.”
Fodero subsequently
printed out information on the supplement from the pharmacy’s website on
clinical pharmacology, where it clearly states, “scientific data supporting
claimed benefits are not always available…since they are not regulated as
drugs…substantial variability can occur in both the potency and the purity of
these products.”
Charlene
Keller, an employee at the Feel-Rite store in Hamburg, NY, turns to her
“Therapeutic Herb Manual” by Ed Smith when she is confused about what herbs to
take. Inside the manual, nearly every major herbal supplement is listed, along
with sections for descriptions, uses, dosages, and cautions. In the back of the
manual, an entire page is dedicated to warning consumers that every supplement
can affect a person individually, and that it is essential to consult a
physician before starting any kind of dietary/herbal supplement.
“I would
much rather be putting natural things in my body to help me feel better than
chemical things. You just have to know the what, when, and how much. They can
be so beneficial when taken correctly.” Keller also mentioned that although
regulations are not very strict on labeling, enough information is available to
the consumer if they wish to find it.
The book
“Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing” by Phyllis A. Balch is vital to Sue
Arndt in her endeavors of healthy living. An employee at Country Cupboard in
East Aurora, Sue has been taking herbal supplements for 33 years.
“Literally everything you need to
know about every supplement is in this book. It’s constantly updated and it is
extremely thorough.” When the subject of bottle labeling was broached, Arndt
immediately went to the shelves and brought back a bottle of Gingko Biloba,
under the brand name “Vitalabs.” Sure enough, the majority of the bottle was
covered in small print, describing uses, dosages, and warnings of consuming
Gingko.
“If you’re
not sure of a brand, don’t buy it. Stay with the brands you know and trust, and
that have full descriptions on the bottles. And here’s some advice…do your
research. Don’t go diagnosing yourself, because you can really do more damage
than good. It is absolutely necessary that you talk to a doctor before you start
any kind of herbal regimen,” Arndt added vehemently.
Arndt went further saying that “Herbs
are a continuous learning experience. One day they will find a new reason to
use Echinacea, and then the next week they will decide to take it off the
shelves. You really just have to talk to your doctor about it, and don’t take
something you don’t know about.”
Katerina Scouras, a business owner in
East Aurora, also uses the book “Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing” when
she needs to look up an herb supplement she is interested in trying.
“I dealt with so many medical issues
when I moved here to America. My husband had this book, and by following
instructions and heeding to its cautions, I was completely symptom free in
about six months.”
Do you know what you are putting in
to your body? Herbal supplements can be beneficial for those who wish to lead a
healthy lifestyle – but knowledge is power. Only purchase supplements from a
brand name in which you trust and have done thorough research on. Also, heed
Sue Arndt’s wisdom – you must always consult your physician before beginning
any kind of herbal or dietary regimen. Many times the sellers of these products
do not share or do not know vital information that is important.
