St. John Wort to improve memory. Chamomile to improve sleep. We’ve all heard of the benefits herbal remedies can provide. But do they really work? And more importantly, are they safe?

This article will explore the good and bad of herbal supplements so you can determine if you should be adding them to your medicine cabinet.

Are Herbal Supplements Safe?

Herbal supplements are categorized as dietary supplements. Therefore, they are not as strictly regulated by the FDA as OTC and prescription drugs are. They don’t require FDA approval. However, they must meet with certain requirements as follows:

• They must be accurately labeled  
• They must be free of contaminants
• They cannot make claims that are not research-backed. If claims are not research-backed, the product label must include a disclaimer stating that the FDA has not evaluated the claim.
• They cannot make any specific medical claims

If products are found to be dangerous, the FDA may remove them from the market.

Who Shouldn’t Take Herbal Supplements?

Certain herbal supplements can be harmful to health due to an individual’s pre-existing conditions. You should talk to a medical professional before taking an herbal supplement if you:

• Are on prescription or OTC medications
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Are about to have surgery or are recovering from surgery
• Are under 18 or over 65 (few herbal supplements have been tested on these age groups)

Do Herbal Supplements Really Work?

Herbal supplements may or may not produce the results they claim to produce. They may work on different people in different capacities. However, you can feel more confident that the supplement you are taking can be trusted by taking the following steps:

• Look at Research: if you find reliable research and studies published by reputable organizations such as the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health and the Office of Dietary Supplements backing an herbal product, that’s a good sign.
• Ask Your Doctor: It’s best to talk to a doctor before taking herbal supplements. They will be able to tell you if it’s safe and/or advisable to proceed.
• Contact the Manufacturer: The manufacturer or distributors will provide you with information that will help you determine if you should be taking the product.

How to Take Herbal Supplements Safely

Here are some tips that will ensure you are staying safe while taking your supplements:

• Follow dosage instructions
• Keep track of how the supplement is affecting you. Stop taking it if it isn’t working or if it’s not producing the results you are looking for.
• Buy from reputable brands
• Check alerts and advisories on the FDA website to ensure the product isn’t going under a regulatory review and has not been reported to cause adverse effects.

Herbal supplements may be beneficial to your wellbeing. But it’s important to take them safely. Make sure you are buying a reputable product from a reputable brand and talk to your doctor before adding them to your routine. We wish you luck finding the remedies that are suited to your health.