Herbal supplements Essay

A survey conducted in the United States in 2002 revealed that many(prenominal)what 38 million people were victimization herb tea tea and dietary supplements, citing them as substantial for their health, withal solely about one terce of them had report the recitation of these herb tea tea w ars to a qualified medical practitioner. Estimates from other reports suggested that approximately 25% of those seeking medical sermon for spartan medical conditions were as hearty as using unconventional treatment which they r atomic number 18ly in track to their doctors. Herbal and dietary supplements pee-pee fail readily available and quite a little be buyd in almost all retail outlets.This obligates it easy for patients to intent them without supervision from a qualified medical practitioner (Medscape Today, 2007). most(prenominal) people tend to think that since herbs shake off been obtained from nature, they atomic number 18 automatically safe. But is this authentical ly the slick? True, many of these results may be consumed without occasioning any defile to the body only if some may demand contaminants that may lead to medical complications and even death. For this reason, it is important that the US Food and dose regime foil these herbal tea supplements for synthetic rubber and talent (Finkel & Pray, 2004).Concerns arising from custom of Herbal supplements The fountain of herbal and dietary supplements is non under convention by the US Food and medicine administration. This is very risk of infectionous since it means that these products necessitate not been tested for purity and speciality yet they ar being consumed by humans in large quantities every day (Medscape Today, 2007). Many plants be quite harmful depending on the climate as well as the condition of the smut where they were grown. The FDA warns that most of the herbal products which are commercialiseed remove not been tested and do not contain any inform ation on their toxic content.Thus, while most users may escape injury, there charter been some isolated reports of some people end or incurring grave injuries as a payoff of using herbs (Finkel & Pray, 2004). other than the natural toxicity which may be present in plants, it has also been reported that the preparation of these herbs is questionable. Medscape today reports that some of the inclined(p) herbs squander been found to real contain prescription drugs and worse still, heavy metals. These products are never labeled as leave of the ingredients and this poses a risk to those who consume them.The danger here lies not only in the fact that these contaminants may cause toxic poisoning to the patients solely also in the fact that some patients are sensitised to certain products and may consume them without recogniseing, therefore endangering their lives (Medscape Today, 2007). Currently, the labeling of products from herbs is under the regulation of the Dietary hang on Health and Education Act. Manufactures of herbal products are required to determine general statements on the safety and aptitude of the product. This includes a arbitrary statement that disclaims the product from diagnosis, interruption or cure of any disease.Unfortunately, these labels form been knowing to promote the use of the product exclusively do not very wee the consumer any concrete information on the nature and content of the product. If the FDA is mandated to regulate these products, they provide be able to place much necessary information such as side effects and contraindications so that the users know what to expect. This testament also put herbal products in the homogeneous category as prescription drugs which might probably make the users to a greater extent inclined to report the tradition of these products to their physicians (Medscape Today, 2007).Another issue that raises concerns on the efficacy and safety of the herbal supplements is the fact th at no testing or quality jibe is performed on them prior to being change in the market. As such, a consumer cannot really be sure if the supposed ingredients that the producer claims to be the contents are actually there or if the product can actually perform the healing wonders that it is purported to. some other than the obvious rip-off, this issue presents concerns all over the general safety of the product (Finkel & Pray, 2004).In deed, the effects of no FDA regulation on herbal products let been seen in the ban on some of the herbal supplements such as those containing ephedra whose usage had resulted in contrary effects on the cardiovascular agreement in patients. Another product, Kava, was also require receivable to worries on hepatotoxicity (Medscape Today, 2007). It is or else ill that the FDA can only act against the use of herbal supplements as they evaluate them fount by case. In the event that a product has brought about serious injury, investigations will not occur unless there are some an(prenominal) an(prenominal) other similar reports.This is rather terrible because by the time the FDA reacts many people could have been permanently hurt 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 al appearances 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 however is also bound to save many lives (Finkel & Pray, 2004). Evidence supporting lack of sanctuary and Efficacy in Herbal Products in that respect are very many herbal supplements which are available in the market and which are purported to heal a mutation of ailments ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses such as cancer. Some have been successful in healing these ailments but there are those which have failed in achieving this goal. another(preno minal) than the above mentioned herbal products, joint fir and kava whose usage was banned due to the danger posed to the users, there are other products which also exhibit the same concerns. Serious reactions to some herbal supplements purchased over the counter have also been put down with permanent injuries and even death.A case study by puts (2007), lookes on the effects of Tricana which was sold as a herbal supplement to the user and had been hailed for promoting nice effects to ones metabolic process which included, loss of weight and the enhancement of energy. Mark focuses on a patient who create dilated cardiomyopathy aft(prenominal) ingesting this supplement, a potentially fatal condition. In deed, the use of this product did not promote the much hailed advantageous effects but instead caused insomnia, sickening 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 includ e 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 many cases of liver and kidney related conditions and actually left over(p) one patient in need of a liver transplant. Apparently the research on this product has found that the use of chaparral has no benefit any(prenominal) on the body and pharmacist were apprised 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 athletic supporter but feel that some form of regulation by the FDA will have prevented such occurrences. Granted, some herbal products have a record of success. But it is on the nose due to the other dangers posed by the other supplements that the US Food and Drug Administration should regulate the use of these products. even out 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 human knee jerk reactions to matters that concern the safety of the public. completion 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 awareness 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 misleading statements on the product so as to make a quick sale. Above all, it is native 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 preve nt any adverse reactions as some of these drugs may not interact well (Finkel & Pray, 2004).