Don't Bogart That Wort, My Friend
Apr 4, 2000 -
© John McManamy
"As many as 15 million Americans may be at risk for potential herb-drug interactions ... " We know that nature's way may be the best way. The catch is we don't know enough about nature, itself. The ultimate natural remedy for depression or mania or memory enhancement is probably sitting on the bottom of a rain forest someplace, or in the belly of some sea creature that even the fish don't know about. In the meantime, alarming numbers of people are experimenting on themselves with what's out there, often without telling their doctors, an astounding 60 percent, according to a Mayo Clinic study. Since 1994, when new laws went into effect virtually removing supplements from FDA control, supplement sales have grown by nearly 80 percent, from $8.8 billion to a projected $15.7 billion for 2000. No doubt, some of these substances represent the right choice for many, but the idea of freely available weeds or roots or bulbs in pill form is disconcerting to many medical practitioners, who fear that as many as 15 million Americans may be at risk for potential herb-drug interactions. Moreover, there might not be as much "nature" in "natural" as suppliers would like you to believe. In a major investigative piece, The Washington Post found that increasing numbers of Americans are falling seriously ill or even dying after taking dietary supplements that promise everything from extra energy to sounder sleep. Among its findings:
To survey some of nature's most popular offerings: ST JOHN'S WORT Some 27 European studies have more than demonstrated its
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