| Since 1994, US law has permitted a number of | | | | in the product. The reason for this is most likely the |
| over-the-counter herbal remedies to be labeled as | | | | lack of FDA regulation. |
| "dietary supplements." | | | | Scientific studies |
| The important thing to understand about these | | | | What lends credibility to many of these herbal |
| supplements is that they are not regulated by the | | | | remedies are scientific studies. However, most were |
| FDA. This means that there is no way to verify the | | | | underwritten by the manufacturers themselves and |
| claims of the people who these products regarding | | | | may focus on positive results while underplaying any |
| their composition, purity, and quantity of their | | | | negative results or side effects. Moreover, many of |
| ingredients... | | | | the scientific studies are not consistent and, because |
| No quality control | | | | of this, their reliability factor suffers. |
| In simple words this means that no type of quality | | | | Chinese herbal remedies have a special characteristic |
| control required in the manufacture of these | | | | which is their Chi (or Qi) effect. Many practitioners of |
| supplements and that there has been no scientific | | | | traditional Chinese medicine study the herbs on the |
| investigation as to the possibility that it may produce | | | | basis of the impact of the Chi of the herbs on the |
| adverse reactions went taken either alone or in | | | | various parts of the human body. They then |
| combination with other drugs. | | | | prescribe the herbs accordingly. Herbs are used to |
| The sad fact | | | | correct imbalances in the body and, thus, bring about |
| The sad fact is that many Americans shop for and | | | | the intended cure for the diagnosed ailment. It is |
| use herbal remedies that are labeled as "dietary | | | | difficult to institute scientific studies to statistically |
| supplements," blindly believing the tall claims made on | | | | evaluate the Qi factor. As a result, the credibility of |
| product labels. | | | | traditional Chinese medicine depends more on history |
| Sometimes these herbal remedies may not have any | | | | and anecdotal evidence than on science. |
| curative properties at all and may even contain | | | | While there are many herbal remedies, there are a |
| uncertain, harmful ingredients with many side effects. | | | | few authentic scientific studies available that validate |
| If you closely examine the different brands of the | | | | their curative powers. Hence, your approach to herbs |
| same product, you may find that there are | | | | listed as "dietary supplements," should always be |
| considerable discrepancies regarding their | | | | "buyer beware" and be careful to discuss them with |
| recommended dosage or the particular part or parts | | | | your doctor. |
| of the herb that are the source of the extract used | | | | |