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COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE: STRATEGIES TO ENSURE HEALTH
Like many other CAM (Complementary And Alternative Medicine) practices, the burgeoning practice of using herbs, roots, and natural remedies to enhance moods, prevent colds, and boost energy has taken a new turn with the introduction of nutraceuticals or functional foods. According to National Institutes of Health (NIH) nutritional biochemist and NIH Office of Dietary Supplements spokesperson Dr. Terry Krakower,
NIH does have some concerns about them and we are looking into them, especially the potential for interaction with other medications. We advise anyone who uses them to talk to their physician. [Functional foods] are so new we don\'t know yet if they are good, bad, or indifferent. [Much] of the herb content in these food products is so small that it\'s probably ineffective, and if it were included in large amounts, it could be harmful. Anyone taking these supplements, whether in pill form or in foods, should do their homework and thoroughly research them rather than rely on health claims made by manufacturers.
Although touted as having health benefits, herbal supplements and functional foods have not been labeled with the precise amount of chemicals in the product, are available without a prescription, and often provide little guidance on how they should be used. This situation poses risks for unsuspecting consumers, raising issues of consumer safety to new levels.
More important, by legal definition, these substances are neither prescription drugs nor over-the-counter medications. Instead, classified as food supplements, they can be sold without approval of the FDA, but they are not supposed to be accompanied by claims of therapeutic benefit, even though they often are. Faced with these often unproven claims, growing risks, and the potential for serious health effects, consumer groups, members of the scientific community, and government officials are calling for action. Increasingly, pressure is mounting to establish consistent standards, similar to those used in Germany and other countries of the world.
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GENERAL HEALTH
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