Online Herbal Remedy Claims May Be Untrue

BOSTON -- Herbal supplements are a booming business in the United States. In the '90s, the use of herbal supplements increased 380 percent, but according to a new study, you can't always believe what you read about herbal products -- especially when surfing the Net.

One herbal remedy promises men they'll be able to "take back" their sex drives. The ginseng formula claims to reduce body fat, and a St. John's wort/kava blend says it's 100 percent guaranteed to work on depression. The problem, according to Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers, is that the Internet claims are not authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.

"These products are not drugs, do not have the same scrutiny as a prescription agent might have. Therefore, they really shouldn't be making these kinds of claims," said Dr. Charles Morris, one of the study's researchers.

The Food and Drug Administration doesn't regulate herbal supplements, based on the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which restricted the FDA's control over the supplements.

Researchers looked at 338 Web sites involved in marketing the top eight best-selling herbs in 2000, including ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort, echinacea, ginseng, garlic, saw palmetto, kava kava, and valerian root. They found that 55 percent of the Web sites made specific claims to treat, prevent, diagnose, or cure specific diseases.

But of even greater concern is what the claims don't say.

"These products do not have well-characterized side effect profiles, drug-drug interactions, and toxicities," Morris said.

And more than half of the sites omitted the federally mandated disclaimer: "This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."

The study is published in Wednesday's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, whose editors call for more effective regulation of supplements.

An official of a supplement trade said many such products have benefits.

In 2001, Americans spent about $18 billion on herbal remedies, and more and more of them turned to the Internet to do their shopping. Vivian Zhang, herbal pharmacy manager at the New England School of Acupuncture, says that's unwise.

"I do not think it's safe for a general public person, general consumer just to say, 'Oh, this herb sounds right for me. I'm going to buy it.' It's really not safe at all," Zhang said.

Instead, she suggests seeking out a well-trained herbal practitioner who is not only able to diagnose your condition, but to recommend top quality herbal products.

"You probably can go to the Internet to search what kind of products are available, but you should never just buy it," she said.