by Piper Wilson

Created on: March 08, 2009   Last Updated: February 06, 2012

Many people supplement their diet with vitamins and herbal supplements because they believe that natural is better. Some people try to cure various ailments by themselves with natural treatments.

Herbal remedies and supplements are not rigorously regulated in the United States; it is up to the consumer to educate themselves about the benefits and risks associated with these substances.

A study published in 2006 found that participants problematically, "had little knowledge about herb-drug interactions and rarely disclosed use of herbal medicines to their doctor." The authors go on to say that, "Doctors' communication and openness regarding herbal medicines needs to improve and there should be increased access to accurate information on herbal medicines in the public and health care domain."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration maintains a list of dietary supplement health claims that meet "significant scientific agreement". Included on that list:

* Red Yeast Rice

Touted as a treatment for high cholesterol. The US Food and Drug Administration released a letter warning consumers that it can "cause severe muscle problems leading to kidney impairment. This risk is greater in patients... who take lovastatin, the antidepressant nefazodone, certain antibiotics, drugs used to treat fungal infections and HIV infections, and other cholesterol-lowering medications."

* Black Cohosh

Treats hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms.

* Kava

Promoted as a anti-anxiety and calming supplement. The US Food and Drug Administration released a warning to consumers that kava have been "Kava-containing products have been associated with liver-related injuries including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure - in over 25 reports of adverse events in other countries. Four patients required liver transplants. In the U.S., FDA has received a report of a previously healthy young female who required liver transplantation, as well as several reports of liver-related injuries."

* Grapefruit juice

Found to increase the bioavailability of certain medications (he body absorb the medication in an unreliable manner) such as Effexor, a commonly prescribed antidepressant.

Consumers should take care to educate themselves, not simply accept advertiser claims and communicate with their doctors to make sure that their assumptions of health benefits are fully understood.

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