Improved memory, happiness, energy, health, weight-loss, and relaxation were at one time left to ourselves to achieve. These days, according to the health claims of herbal supplements, you can find them all contained within a little pill. A recent nationwide survey by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) showed that an estimated forty percent of adults use herbal supplements and more than eighty percent take vitamin and mineral supplements. What is it about a pill that inspires the confidence and trust of so many Americans? Clearly, this $16 billion dollar industry has made quite a following for itself.
Many simply cannot resist the list of health claims herbal supplements claim to possess. Yet, a growing body of research is disproving the supposed effectiveness of these supplements. Echinacea, an extract from the coneflower, was found to be no better at preventing a cold than a placebo, or sugar pill, according to a recent study published in the Archives of Family Medicine. In addition, a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association refuted health claims in favor of St. John's Wort. In a study of 200 depressed patients at eleven academic medical centers throughout the country, researchers found St. John's Wort provided no advantage over a placebo in alleviating symptoms of depression.
Furthermore, in a review of herbal supplements, the ADA has also helped to separate herbal fact from fiction. In research studying the effectiveness of ginseng, there is no evidence to support its use to reduce fatigue, increase energy levels, or improve athletic performance. Likewise, ginkgo biloba claims to boost memory, but laboratory studies show little evidence that this is the case.
To add further doubt to the potential of herbal supplements, mounting evidence suggests these remedies may also be very dangerous. People are falsely led to believe that because these products are grown in nature, they are not harmful to the body. Kava, known for its claims of inducing sleep and reducing anxiety, has been linked to multiple cases of liver toxicity and is currently under review. Also, there is strong concern for the popular weight-loss herb, ma huang, which has not been tested for effectiveness or safety. Since its release, more than 800 victims have reported ill effects, ranging from headaches and vomiting to heart attacks and brain hemorrhage. As a result, more than fifteen people have died. Clearly, the risks involved in taking these herbs far outweigh possible benefits.
So how can the herbal supplement industry make such unsubstantiated claims while maintaining unregulated status? As a result of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act passed by Congress in 1994, herbs and other supplements do not have to prove that they are safe or effective before they can be sold in the U.S. These products are not evaluated by the FDA, thus, supplement makers do not have to conduct large-scale clinical trials to prove the effects of their products.
Clearly, this industry needs to be more strongly regulated. However, as consumers, Americans must take the responsibility upon themselves to make informed decisions. Currently, too many people are wasting their money and taking unnecessary risks. While there is no denying that it is very tempting to believe these health claims, unfortunately, there are no simple answers to complex problems. If we believed in ourselves as much as we believed in the power of these supplements, perhaps we would not be seeking them in the first place.
Nicolette is a fourth-year student studying human nutrition and dietetics. She plans to become a registered dietitian.
