Herbs

jpatenaude15

Does anyone take herbal supplements? Just started taking one just inquiring

AnnPT77

So far, any herbal ingredients that I've looked up on https://examine.com/ don't seem to be worth the $$. But that's only from looking up things that sounded interesting to me. I recommend Examine.com for decent info, though.

earlnabby

jpatenaude15 wrote: »

Does anyone take herbal supplements? Just started taking one just inquiring

What are you taking and what is it supposed to help?

jpatenaude15

I’m taking tongkat Ali. Supposed to increase energy, stamina and sex drive

AnnPT77

https://examine.com/supplements/eurycoma-longifolia-jack/

tongkat ali a.k.a. eurycoma longifolia jack .

Not offering an opinion, just a link to a site that's usually a sound source.

savithny

Depending on the sourcing, many of the herbal supplements being imported from places where the FDA can't inspect are full of actual pharmaceuticals, including steroids and/or viagra-type things.

An analysis of the FDA database of pharmaceutically adulterated supplements is the focus of a new study by Tucker and colleagues.1 The authors found that between 2007 and 2016 the FDA identified 746 brands of supplements adulterated with pharmaceutical agents. The adulterants included prescription medications such as sildenafil and fluoxetine, withdrawn medications including sibutramine and phenolphthalein, and unapproved drugs including dapoxetine and designer steroids. Twenty percent of the adulterated supplements contained 2 or more undeclared drugs, for example, weight loss supplements containing both an anorectic and a laxative. Most supplements adulterated with drugs were marketed as weight loss, sexual enhancement, or sports supplements—the same categories that epidemiologists have found to be responsible for a disproportionate number of the estimated 23 000 emergency department visits attributed to dietary supplements each year in the United States.2

Summary blog post:
https://www.madinamerica.com/2018/11/herbal-supplements-may-contain-dangerous-pharmaceuticals/

Link to the journal article it's describing (in case you can't get full-text access):
Tucker, J., Fischer, T., Upjohn, L., Mazzera, D., & Kumar, M. (2018). Unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients included in dietary supplements associated with US Food and Drug Administration warnings. JAMA Network Open, 1(6), e183337. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3337 (Link)

And another link discussing the topic:
Cohen, P. A. (2018). The FDA and adulterated supplements—Dereliction of duty. JAMA Network Open, 1(6), e183329. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3329 (Link)

BrianSharpe

I tend to avoid them as I like to know what I'm actually putting in my body and given the wildly exaggerated claims, lack of regulation and standardization I have little faith in the supplement makers.

jgnatca

Oops. My brain went down the road of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.

7lenny7

jgnatca wrote: »

Oops. My brain went down the road of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.

I was thinking of the kind herb.

FL_Hiker

jgnatca wrote: »

Oops. My brain went down the road of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.

Me too, I like fresh basil on my pizza lol.

kenyonhaff

In general, unless your LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL suggests you take an herb, it's not medically necessary. And you have to be a little careful--just because it's "natural" doesn't mean "harmless". (Poison ivy is natural!) Some herbal supplements can interact with drugs, for example.

Also, in the USA the dietary supplement industry is basically NOT regulated whatsoever. You can't be entirely sure with most supplements what potency it is, if it's tested for quality, and so on. And they will promise all sorts of things that may not be backed up with actual science.

And please understand, I'm all for using herbs. There can be real benefits! Just do so with your doctor's knowledge and recommendation.

Tacklewasher

kenyonhaff wrote: »

In general, unless your LICENSED MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL suggests you take an herb, it's not medically necessary. And you have to be a little careful--just because it's "natural" doesn't mean "harmless". (Poison ivy is natural!) Some herbal supplements can interact with drugs, for example.

Also, in the USA the dietary supplement industry is basically NOT regulated whatsoever. You can't be entirely sure with most supplements what potency it is, if it's tested for quality, and so on. And they will promise all sorts of things that may not be backed up with actual science.

And please understand, I'm all for using herbs. There can be real benefits! Just do so with your doctor's knowledge and recommendation.

Further to this. There was ONE study done at a Canadian University. And while they did not name names, they found most of the products contained far less of the "active" ingredient and many contained fillers that were potential allergens. So if you are sensitive to wheat, they may contain it.

Found a G&M article on it.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/that-herbal-supplement-may-not-be-what-you-think-it-is/article14825662/

Cahgetsfit

I like herbs. I've taken a variety of different herbs for a variety of different things and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes maybe it was a placebo effect, but, overall, I still use them and am generally happy with them.

Haven't taken that particular one you mentioned before tho.

jpatenaude15

thanks everyone for your input