Are Herbal Supplements Safe?

Mayo Clinic: What you should know before you buy

Herbal supplements may become even more popular as new safety regulations are implemented, but are they right for you? That depends on the herb, your current health and your medical history.

Herbal supplements have active ingredients that can affect how your body functions, just as over-the-counter and prescription drugs do. Herbal supplements may be particularly risky for certain individuals, and herbal supplement labels are often vague, confusing and of little help when it comes to making a selection. If you're considering herbal supplements or other dietary supplements, educate yourself about any products you intend to use before purchasing them and talk to your doctor about any supplements you're considering taking.

Dietary supplements don't need to go through the rigorous review process that new drugs must undergo before being "approved" by the FDA. But the new regulations aim to improve safety by requiring supplement manufacturers to follow certain manufacturing practices and to ensure that supplements contain what their labels claim and are free of contaminants. The FDA is responsible for monitoring the safety of supplements after they're on the market and enforcing action against unsafe supplements. These new regulations will be phased in over a three-year period so that by June, 2010, all supplement manufacturers should meet these requirements.

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