The Truth about Herbal Supplements La Tisha San Pedro-Lintag Kaplan University HW499

Background on Herbal Supplements Subset of botanicals Must improve or maintain the quality of health to be considered a Herb Dietary Supplement is the following: Intended to supplement the diet Contains one or more of dietary supplements; herbs, amino acids, or other botanicals Intended to be taken by mouth in the form of a pill, capsule, liquid, or tablet Labeled on the front panel as a dietary supplement http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground-HealthProfessional/

What You Need to Know Are regulated by FDA but not like food & prescription drugs FDA approval is not required before the product is marketed Manufactures can claim the product addresses certain needs so long as they have supporting research and included a disclaimer that their claim has not been FDA approved Manufactures must adhere to certain manufacturing processes to ensure quality standards are being met Once a product is on the market the FDA is responsible in monitoring safety http://www.mayoclinic.org/herbal-supplements/art-20046714

What You Need to Know Rules do not guarantee herbal supplements are safe for everyone Often contain active ingredients that can pose unexpected risks Taking a combination of herbal supplements and prescribed medication can have life threatening results Advise your medical team of any herbal supplements you may be taking http://www.mayoclinic.org/herbal-supplements/art-20046714

What You Need to Know Be a smart consumer Do your research – scientific research findings Consult your doctor Speak to your pharmacists Research the manufacturer http://www.mayoclinic.org/herbal-supplements/art-20046714

Who Shouldn’t take Herbal Supplements Serious side effects with OTC medication and prescribed medication Aspirin Blood thinners Blood pressure medication Pregnant or breast-feeding Having surgery Children and the Elderly http://www.mayoclinic.org/herbal-supplements/art-20046714

Safety Tips Follow manufacturers instructions Monitor intake – take 1 supplement at time to monitor your body’s reaction Be cautious of herbal supplements manufactured outside of the United States Check advisories periodically – FDA & NCCAM http://www.mayoclinic.org/herbal-supplements/art-20046714?pg=2

Risky Herbs St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) –ease depression Kava (Piper methysticum) – ease anxiety Comfrey (Symphytum officinale) – heal injured tissues Chaparral (Larrea divaricata, Larrea tridentata) - reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) - has not been proven to have any effective uses St. John’s Wort – Can seriously damage the liver and kidneys, as well as have drug interactions. Kava – while studies show this herb has worked, serious illness can occur. Severe liver damage & even death can occur even during short periods of time under normal dosage. Heavy Kava usage has been linked to nerve damage and skin changes. Comfrey- FDA recommended in 2001 to have this herbal supplement removed from shelves but yet it can still purchased, even served at local tea shops. It can cause serious damage to the liver. Chaparral – listed in FDA’s poisonous database causing liver damage. Pennyroyal – has been used to cause abortion but would require large doses which could potentially kill the mother or leave irresolvable damage to the liver and kidney http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/features/risky-herbal-supplements?page=3

Resources For periodic reviews - Complete list of Herbs (A-Z) FDA - http://www.fda.gov/default.htm NCCAM - http://nccam.nih.gov/ Complete list of Herbs (A-Z) http://nccam.nih.gov/health/herbsataglance.htm?nav=gsa

References National Institute of Health – WebMD – Mayo Clinic – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/herbalmedicine.html WebMD – http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/features/risky-herbal-supplements Mayo Clinic – http://www.mayoclinic.org/herbal-supplements/art-20046714?pg=1 Office of Dietary Supplements – http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/BotanicalBackground-HealthProfessional/