MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT HERBAL AND NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS
One misconception people have about these words is that they mean a product is safe. Many herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements are powerful substances. Any substance should be taken according to prescribed or recommended dosing directions. Taking more than the recommended dosage may result in unpleasant or serious side effects. Ephedra is one such example.
Many people also incorrectly believe that manufacturers of herbs, vitamins, and other natural supplements are required to adhere to the same strict guidelines that producers of overcounter and prescription pharmaceutical products must follow. This is not true. The lack of regulation of natural products can make it difficult to identify quality herbal ind natural remedies.
To help ease the uncertainty, the federal government passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994. This act offers some consumer protection by requiring that manufacturers label their supplements with specific information about the ingredients
Ephedra, also known as ma huang – This herbal product has been linked with more than 60 deaths and over 800 medical complaints. Many states now ban or restrict the sale of ephedra or products containing it.