Warnings on Alternative and So-Called Natural Remedies

Warnings on Alternative and So-Called Natural Remedies

Alternative or natural remedies are not regulated and their quality is not publicly controlled. In addition, any substance that can affect the body's chemistry can, like any drug, produce side effects that may be harmful. Even if studies report positive benefits from herbal remedies, the compounds used in such studies are, in most cases, not what are being marketed to the public.
A wide range of herbal products, both oral and topical, may contribute to dermatological problems. Some Chinese herbal creams have been found to contain corticosteroids, and some may contain mercury or arsenic contaminants have been reported in some Ayurvedic therapies. In addition, a number of oral herbal remedies used for medical or emotional conditions may produce irritation in reaction to sunlight (photosensitivity). They include, but are not limited to, St. Johns Wort, kava, and yohimbine. St. John's Wort, in fact, has been associated with severe toxicity in a patient who had laser treatments.
The following website is building a database of natural remedy brands that it tests and rates. Not all are available yet (www.consumerlab.com).
The Food and Drug Administration has a program called MEDWATCH for people to report adverse reactions to untested substances, such as herbal remedies and vitamins

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