Herbal supplements Essay

A survey conducted in the United States in 2002 revealed that whatsoever 38 million people were using herbal and dietetical tacks, citing them as classical for their repairth, yet only about one third of them had report the manipulation of these herbal mathematical productions to a qualified medical practitioner. Estimates from opposite reports suggested that round 25% of those seeking medical treatment for real medical conditions were to a fault using unconventional treatment which they r atomic number 18ly reported to their doctors. Herbal and dietary supplements permit become readily available and can be purchased in al to the highest degree all retail outlets.This makes it easy for patients to do them without supervision from a qualified medical practitioner (Medscape Today, 2007). Most people tend to mobilise that since herbs render been obtained from nature, they are automatically safe. But is this really the case? True, round(prenominal) of these products w hitethorn be consumed without occasioning any(prenominal) harm to the body just or so may contain contaminants that may lead to medical complications and even death. For this reason, it is important that the US Food and Drug constitution regulate these herbal supplements for natural rubber and efficacy (Finkel & Pray, 2004).Concerns arising from wasting disease of Herbal supplements The mathematical function of herbal and dietary supplements is non under regulation by the US Food and Drug administration. This is truly dangerous since it means that these products drop not been tested for purity and effectuality yet they are being consumed by humans in self-aggrandizing quantities every day (Medscape Today, 2007). Many plants are quite toxic depending on the climate as well as the condition of the soil where they were grown. The FDA warns that just about of the herbal products which are marketed have not been tested and do not contain any in readyation on their toxic con tent.Thus, while most users may escape injury, there have been some isolated reports of some people dying or incurring grave injuries as a result of using herbs (Finkel & Pray, 2004). Other than the natural toxicity which may be present in plants, it has as well been reported that the preparation of these herbs is questionable. Medscape today reports that some of the prepared herbs have been found to truly contain ethical drug drugs and worsened still, heavy metals. These products are never labeled as part of the ingredients and this poses a risk to those who consume them.The danger here lies not only in the concomitant that these contaminants may cause toxic poisoning to the patients still withal in the fact that some patients are allergic to certain products and may consume them without knowing, thus endangering their lives (Medscape Today, 2007). Currently, the labeling of products from herbs is under the regulation of the Dietary Supplement health and Education Act. Manu factures of herbal products are required to make general statements on the safe and efficacy of the product. This includes a compulsory statement that disclaims the product from diagnosis, streak or restore of any disease.Unfortunately, these labels have been designed to promote the use of the product but do not really give the consumer any concrete information on the nature and content of the product. If the FDA is mandated to regulate these products, they result be able to place more necessary information such(prenominal) as side effects and contraindications so that the users know what to expect. This will too put herbal products in the same category as prescription drugs which might probably make the users more inclined to report the usage of these products to their physicians (Medscape Today, 2007).Another issue that raises cautions on the efficacy and safety of the herbal supplements is the fact that no testing or quality control is performed on them introductory to be ing sold in the market. As such, a consumer cannot really be sure if the suppresent ingredients that the manufacturer claims to be the contents are actually there or if the product can actually perform the better wonders that it is purported to. Other than the obvious rip-off, this issue presents concerns over the overall safety of the product (Finkel & Pray, 2004).In deed, the effects of no FDA regulation on herbal products have been seen in the ban on some of the herbal supplements such as those containing ephedra whose usage had resulted in adverse effects on the cardiovascular system in patients. Another product, Kava, was also prohibited due to worries on hepatotoxicity (Medscape Today, 2007). It is rather unfortunate that the FDA can only act against the use of herbal supplements as they evaluate them case by case. In the event that a product has brought about serious injury, investigations will not occur unless there are some(prenominal) other similar reports.This is rather dangerous because by the time the FDA reacts many people could have been permanently injured or killed as a result of using the product, a situation which could have been easily avoided if the products had been suggested to quality control and analysis. Prevention is always better than cure and mandating the FDA to regulate herbal products will not only go a long way in improving the quality of these products but is also bound to save many lives (Finkel & Pray, 2004). Evidence supporting lack of golosh and Efficacy in Herbal ProductsThere are very many herbal supplements which are available in the market and which are purported to heal a variety of ailments ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as crab louse. Some have been successful in healing these ailments but there are those which have failed in achieving this goal. Other than the above mentioned herbal products, Ephedra and kava whose usage was banned due to the danger posed to the users, there are oth er products which also exhibit the same concerns. flagitious reactions to some herbal supplements purchased over the counter have also been save with permanent injuries and even death.A case study by label (2007), researches on the effects of Tricana which was sold as a herbal supplement to the user and had been hailed for promoting good effects to ones metabolism which included, personnel casualty of weight and the enhancement of energy. Mark focuses on a patient who genuine dilated cardiomyopathy after ingesting this supplement, a potentially fatal condition. In deed, the use of this product did not promote the much hailed beneficial effects but instead caused insomnia, nervous conditions and diarrhea.The FDA withdrew Tricana from the market in the year 2000 as a result of these safety concerns (Marks, 2007). Other products include Chaparral which was purported to be a blood purifier as well as a cure for cancer and has also resulted in adverse reactions. It has caused very m any cases of liver and kidney cogitate conditions and actually left one patient in need of a liver transplant. Apparently the research on this product has found that the use of chaparral has no benefit whatsoever on the body and apothecary were advised to inform consumers against using this product (Finkel & Pray, 2004).These are just a few examples of the dangerous effects that over the counter herbal supplements have posed to their users. Thus, one cannot help but feel that some form of regulation by the FDA will have checked such occurrences. Granted, some herbal products have a record of success. But it is precisely due to the other dangers posed by the other supplements that the US Food and Drug Administration should regulate the use of these products.Right now, the reaction of the FDA is more reactive than proactive removing herbal supplements from the market only after they have occasioned some serious harm to the user. America cannot afford to have knee jerk reactions to matters that concern the safety of the public. Conclusion While we advocate for the FDA to regulate the use of these products so as to promote their safety and efficacy, it will also be in order to engage in some form of public consciousness so that the consumers can know ways in which to check for the safety of the herbal supplements.If they have to buy these products, they should be encouraged to purchase them from pharmacists who are more inclined to give them correct information on the product efficacy. Other sales agents are more inclined to make deceptive statements on the product so as to make a readily sale. Above all, it is essential for consumers to be encouraged to report the usage of any of these herbal supplements to their physicians especially if they are taking other medication to prevent any adverse reactions as some of these drugs may not move well (Finkel & Pray, 2004).