Herbal Supplements: What You Don’t Know Might Hurt You
Continued fmm Page 1
growing public desire to avoid
the high cost of prescription
medications, and a growing
belief that natural products are
safer and healthier than tradition
al options.
However, Marylou Martz,
coordinator of student health ser
vices at PSH, was uncertain
about the popularity of herbal
products with students here.
She said the office has occa
sionally prescribed some herbal
treatments, but only for plants
listed in the herbal Physician’s
Desk Reference (PDR).
Examples include melatonin
for sleep regulation and ephedra,
which relieves nasal congestion.
“We don’t hear a lot about it,
and we wouldn’t know unless
they disclosed it during an exam
or visit,” she said.
Martz added that nontraditional
students are most likely to request
information about herbal supple
ments, but even those questions
are sporadic since confusion still
surrounds these products.
“One of the main problems
with herbs is they are not FDA
approved, and there is no effica
cy data for many of them,” said
Martz.
“People don’t know the toxic
levels of some of these herbs,
and they don’t know what a safe
dosage level is. One bottle of a
supplement may say to take three
pills, and a different bottle of the
same thing might say to take
Spring Clubfest
ft.
Photo by Nicole Burkholder
Members of the Lion Ambassadors shared information about their group last week at Clubfest.
Unlike prescription drugs, the
FDA does not require herbal
remedies to obtain approval, pro
vided they are marketed as
dietary supplements.
The Dietary Supplement
Health and Education Act of
1994 (DSHEA) also says the
FDA does not need to mandate
studies to determine the safety
and effectiveness of herbs.
Makers of herbal products are
also subject to minimal regula
tion by the FDA. An article from
the alternative medicine section
of the Planetßx.com website
stated that manufacturers do not
have to provide concrete proof of
their product’s ability to achieve
its claims.
Also, the makers do not have
to provide information describ
ing how herbs may interact with
other medicines.
Furthermore, the newest niche
in the medical market lacks any
standards to test and maintain a
supplement’s quality, nor do
manufacturers have to provide
information concerning the long
term effects of herbs.
Though the herbal supplement
market is largely unregulated by
any government agency, some
rules for labeling and selling
them exist.
Manufacturers can only
include claims on the label that
describe the herb’s overall effect
on bodily structure and function.
One example might be “calci
um builds strong bones.” A dis
claimer stating that the FDA has
not tested the product for safety
or effectiveness must appear on
the package.
The problem with this caution
is that consumers often need a
magnifying glass to read it. The
Planetßx site states that the label
must also list the name and
amount of each ingredient, as
well as its source.
It must categorize all ingredi
ents according to FDA guidelines
for recommended consumption,
and it must list any ingredients
that these guidelines do not
Current labeling regulations
do not require “alternative medi
cine” manufacturers to list infor
mation about the product’s side
effects.
The makers can also omit
information describing their
product’s possible interactions
with other drugs, and its potency,
quality, and purity.
Since the FDA does not enforce
standards to insure the quality of
herbal supplements, the label may
contain inaccurate information,
according to registered dietitian
Ellen Coleman in her online article
“Herbs for Health.”
If an herbal supplement’s
label either directly or indirectly
states that it can diagnose, cure,
treat, or prevent any illness, the
FDA can deem it an illegal drug
and force its removal from store
shelves.
According to the Planet Rx
website, the FDA began last year
to consider strategies that would
create a set of regulations for
herbal products that are similar
to those enforced for prescription
medicines.
Until those occur, Martz
believes students should develop
a healthy skepticism towards
alternative medicines.
The university has no official
policy regarding herbal supple
ment use because so' many
unknowns exist.
One way to learn about an
herb’s safety are to consult an
herbal PDR, which is available
in the PSH Student Health
Services Office, or from any
major bookstore. The Student
Health Services Office also has
information available about
herbal supplements.
Another option is to visit a
reliable Web site. Among the
best choices are
News from SGA
Valentine’s Day
Carnation Sale
The Student Government
Association (SGA) has raised
enough money to purchase the Pin
Oaks for the Michael A. Hemer
Memorial. The SGA is now
attempting to raise money to buy.a
suitable stone for the memorial.
The entire south side of the
new library has been secured to
establish the memorial.
The SGA is sponsoring a
Valentine’s Day carnation sale that
will consist of three carnations and
greens, wrapped in cellophane.
Each will be sold for $3.50.
On Monday, Feb. 7, Tuesday
Feb. 8 and Wednesday, Feb. 9, the
SGA will be in the Olmsted main
lobby to presell the carnations.
In addition, the SGA we will
be located in the Lion’s Den
Lobby on Feb. 10 to presell
flowers. The times will be from
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Money will be due when the
order is placed. Also to add a
special touch, SGA is offering
the option for customers to pick
up their flowers or to have them
delivered to a specific office on
Feb. 14.
SGA will have extra flowers
that can be purchased on Feb. 14.
All proceeds will benefit the
Michael A. Hemer Memorial, to
purchase a stone and also to list
all other students who lost their
lives while attending PSH.
HerbsHerbals.com
health.yahoo.com/health/altema
tive_medicine/.
Along with solid, basic infor
mation, these sites also list side
effects and toxic levels, as well
as special considerations people
should address before using a
supplement.
But neither of these strategies
can substitute for talking with a
licensed pharmacist, doctor, or
other health care professional.
“Anytime students decide to
take an herb, they should always
discuss it with their physician,”
Martz said.
“It could interact with other
medications, with past medical
history, or with physical charac
teristics like weight. It’s a stu
dent’s decision to take herbs,”
she continued, “but I’m not
opposed as long as they know
that what they’re taking is safe.”
Spring Elections
To prepare for the spring elec
tions that will be held on March
28, 29 and 30, SGA will hold an
information session on Tuesday,
Feb. 22 in the Gallery Lounge
from 1 to 2 p.m. Pizza and soda
will be served.
This session will be open to all
students who are interested in run
ning for the following positions
for the 2000/2001 academic year:
- President
- Vice-president
- Treasurer
- Chair
- Executive Secretary
- Committee Secretary
- Public Relations Officer
- 2 Senior Senators At Large
- Senior Senator Behavioral
Science & Education
- Senior Senator Business
- Senior Senator Humanities
- Senior Senator Science, Engin
eering & Technology
- Senior Senator Public Affairs
The information session will
cover the duties, responsibilities
and other helpful hints with their
campaign.
The terms of office will be
from mid-April 2000 through
mid-April 2001.
There will also be the possi
bility for the new president to
appoint up to five executive
assistants who have unique qual
ities that would benefit SGA
based on need.