How Safe Are Herbs?

"If it is natural, it must be safe!" Americans have bought into this motto for years, but it's not true according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is a dangerous and inaccurate assumption to believe that herbal products are necessarily safe. People often think herbs will have no side effects and do not know about potential drug interactions.

In the U.S., herbal products can be marketed only as food supplements. If a manufacturer or distributor makes specific health claims about an herbal product - indicates on the label the illness for which the product might be used - without FDA approval, the product can be pulled from store shelves.

Recently, the FDA wrote more than 80 companies warning them to make sure the food ingredients being used in their products are considered safe by the government and to cease making illegal and scientifically unproven health claims.

Some additives are considered healthy such as orange juice with added calcium or breakfast cereals containing fiber. Research suggests that cranberries help to prevent urinary tract infections caused by E. Coli bacteria. But snack chips with Echinacea reducing the risk of colds or fruit drinks with Kava Kava claiming to provide an energy boost are not proven.