As use of herbs rises, FDA
seeks to regulate them
February 7, 2005
Herbs such as St. Johns Wort and ginkgo are being used
more and more by consumers these days. In fact, about
1 out of 5 adults use them. Experts are now warning
consumers that they might not be getting exactly what
they think they are buying due to a lack of herbal regulations.
Despite complaints, supplements are still being regulated
like foods instead of drugs so they have different safety
and effectiveness rules.
Summary
- Non-traditional medicine is no fad By Marilyn Elias,
USA TODAY So-called alternative medicine is in the
mainstream: More than one-third of adults use it,
but popularity has raced ahead of research on benefits
and dangers, as well as action to protect consumers,
says a federal report out Wednesday.
- There are many alternate health practices, from
herbs and acupuncture to homeopathic products, chiropractic
care and yoga.
- Insurance usually won't cover them, so Americans
are spending more than $30 billion a year out of pocket
to get them, says Stuart Bondurant, a dean at Georgetown
University Medical Center.
- He chaired the Institute of Medicine expert panel
asked to report on key research and policy questions
by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative
Medicine, which is part of the National Institutes
of Health.
- A 1994 law authorized the Food and Drug Administration
to set "good manufacturing practices" for
supplement makers.
- The agency also can fine companies that don't meet
standards, or even shut them down, says Mark Blumenthal
of the American Botanical Council, an independent
non-profit that promotes responsible use of herbs.
- The FDA published proposed rules in 2003 but has
not issued final guidelines.
- Some herbs can be dangerous when taken with traditional
medicines, and about two-thirds of Americans using
alternative therapies don't tell their doctors, according
to Eisenberg's studies.
- The IOM panel says the 1994 law needs to be amended
to strengthen quality control and consumer protection.
- Even if the current law were fully enforced, it
wouldn't yield enough information, Bondurant says.
- But Blumenthal says expecting the FDA to take on
new responsibilities is unrealistic: "They lack
the manpower, the expertise and the budget to deal
with herbal safety issues."
Source:www.newstarget.com
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