by Marie N. Riddle

Created on: January 20, 2009   Last Updated: July 04, 2009

If you have ever browsed the supplement aisle at any retail store you know that there are hundreds available. But which ones work? Which ones are safe? Most of these are still being researched and have not been evaluated by the FDA. But that doesn't mean some of them aren't still beneficial.

One of the most commonly used herbals supplements is Echinacea. It has been used for several centuries to treat a variety of ailments, some with more effect than others. Research has indicated that this herb can increase the immune systems response and relieve inflammation and pain. And it has been recommended for use in treating fungal infections (like athletes foot) and other infections such as urinary tract infections and ear infections by some professional herbalists. Its most common uses, however, are to prevent and treat the common cold or the flu. There is conflicting research both supporting and disputing its effectiveness, and even research that supports its effectives indicates that it should not be used for more than eight weeks at a time as it will become less effective. Echinacea should not be used without consulting a physician. It should never be used by individuals with autoimmune diseases (like rheumatoid arthritis) or immunodeficiencies like HIV. It also should not be used by people with asthma or people who are recieving or who have received an organ transplant because it may decrease the effectiveness of immunosuppressant drugs.

Black Cohosh is another popular herbal supplement and is believed to relive some menopausal symptoms in women. However, most studies that show this to be true are not placebo controlled (which means the benefits might be purely psychological) and the studies that are show no real difference between its effects and placebo. More studies are needed to determine this herbs effectiveness and long term safety and you should talk to your doctor before taking it.

St john's Wort is an herb commonly taken to treat depression, and there is a great deal of scientific evidence to support this. It has been shown to be equally effective to several commonly used prescription anti-depressants in treating mild or moderate depression, and with fewer side effects. For those with a form of depression that occurs in winter due to lack of sunlight (Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD) it has shown an improvement in mood. It has also shown a decrease in alcohol cravings in one animal study and might be used to treat alcoholism.

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