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Herbal remedies used to treat minor conditions by Suzanne Runtz Dietetic Intern An estimated 17 to 30 percent of the adult population in the U.S. are turning to herbal remedies to treat minor conditions, prevent minor illness, and increase wellness or energy. And their popularity is increasing. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate herbal medicine, creating a potential danger since the amount of the active ingredients is undetermined. The safety of the products and the health claims of herbal medicines are not FDA approved either.  Herbs can be sold as supplements with the claims of their effect on the human body as long as the company has adequate documentation for the claim. In addition, it must display the disclaimer, “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” The disclaimer is important for consumers to pay attention to because many people are taking herbs along with their prescription medications to treat a medical condition. Pharmacists and other health care providers need to be concerned with the potential interactions of the products their patients are taking. Often people are taking many pharmaceuticals and herbs at the same time, making it difficult to isolate which products are interacting with what. It is essential to let your health care providers know if you are taking any supplements. Standard herb doses are based on a 150 pound adult between the age of 12 and 60, and the doses are not regulated. Unfortunately many people do not fit into this category.  In addition many other factors effect the herbal prescribing dose, such as pregnancy, vegetarianism, alcohol and smoking, breast feeding, oral contraceptives or hormone replacements, and general effects on absorption. Many people are taking more than the recommended amount thinking, “If a little helps, then a lot will work better.” This is not necessarily true. In fact, taking too much of an herbal supplement can pose a greater health risk since many of the supplements have not been fully researched and their long term effects are unknown. If you decide to use an herbal supplement you should inform your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you are currently taking other medications.  Another source of information in choosing an herbal supplement is the Association of Natural Medicine.  But eating a well-balanced diet and maintaining good health may make taking herbal medicines unnecessary and expensive. Adding herbal supplements to a poor diet still leaves you with a poor diet.  The common sense approach to good health is to eat a well-balanced diet including a variety of foods, get enough sleep, exercise and reduce stress.