Keep informed of studies. The active ingredients in many herbs and herbal supplements are not known. There may be dozens, even hundreds of such compounds in an herbal supplement. Scientists are currently working to identify these ingredients and analyze products, using sophisticated technology. Identifying the active ingredients in herbs and understanding how herbs affects the body are important research areas for such government bodies as the U.S. National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine(NCCAM).

Be cautious of the contents. Published analyses of herbal supplements have found differences between what’s listed on the label and what’s in the bottle. This means that you may be taking less or more of the supplements than what the label indicates. Also, the word “standardized” on a product label is no guarantee of higher product quality. For instance, in the United States, there is no legal definition of “standardized” (or “certified” or “verified”) for supplements. Some herbal supplements have been found to be contaminated with metals, unlabeled prescription drugs, microorganisms, or other substances.

Treat miraculous claims on websites with care. There has been an increase in the number of websites that sell and promote herbal supplements on the internet. The U.S. Federal Government has taken legal action against a number of company sites because they have been shown to contain incorrect statements and to be deceptive to consumers; this has also happened in other jurisdictions, such as Australia. It is important to know how to evaluated the claims that are made for supplements.

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