How to Find an Herbal Supplement Alternative for Drugs

Many people are using herbal supplements as alternatives to drugs. Information Resources Inc., a market research firm based in Chicago, concluded that herbal supplement sales in the mainstream market channel came to over $289 million in 2008, representing an increase of about 7 percent over 2007. With so many people buying herbal supplements, availability has increased. Consequently, finding the right herbal supplement can be a challenge.

Instructions

• 1

  Exercise Caution. Herbal supplements are not subjected to the same scientific studies that conventional medications are subjected to. Yet, similar to medications, herbal supplements can have serious side effects. Moreover, herbal supplements can interact with prescription and over-the-counter medications to cause a host of serious complications. For example, according to cardiologists at the Cleveland Clinic, serious and even fatal interactions have been reported between cardiac medicines and some herbal supplements. Consequently, it is best to consult your doctor before taking any herbal supplement.

• 2

  Read the label. Herbal supplements will have a label which contains certain information. This may include the active ingredient in the herbal supplement, what the herbal supplement is supposed to do, any disclaimers, other ingredients and the name of the manufacturer. However, the Mayo Clinic notes that these labels are often vague or misleading. In 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was granted authority to regulate herbal supplements. This includes examining all labels to ensure that the label is an accurate representation of the product, which was to take full effect by 2010.

• 3

  Look for a USP Dietary Supplement Verified seal on the supplement. The USP Dietary Supplement Verified seal indicates that the supplement has met certain quality standards. In order to determine whether supplements meet these standards, supplements are tested for product uniformity, cleanliness, and environmental contaminants, among other things. The Mayo Clinic notes that other reputable verification organizations include Good Housekeeping and NSF International.

• 4

  Research herbal supplements using the American Cancer Society website. The American Cancer Society has created a comprehensive list of herbal supplements that are associated with cancer prevention and treatment, many of which are also used for other conditions. For each supplement, the American Cancer Society has created a fact sheet which discusses what the herbal supplement is used for, what proponents say about it, and what scientific evidence supports these claims. The link to this site can be found below.

• 5

  Consult your doctor. Certain people should not use herbal supplements, according to the Mayo Clinic. This includes people who are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, people who are having surgery, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. All patients, however, should consult their doctors before taking herbal supplements as an alternative to drugs.