Dietary Supplements; Are They Right For You?

Botanical And Herbal Supplements

Botanical and herbal dietary supplements are natural plant-derived supplements known for their medicinal or therapeutic properties. They are commonly prepared and sold as fresh or dried products, liquid or solid extracts, capsules, powders, tablets, and tea bags. The safety of botanical and herbal dietary supplements is dependant on the chemical makeup, how it affects the individual, how it was prepared, and the dose.

To be classified as a dietary supplement, botanicals must meet the definition that it is intended to supplement the diet, contains one or more dietary ingredients like vitamins or minerals, is intended to be taken orally, and is labeled a dietary supplement.

Safety Precautions Of Dietary Supplements

The safety of dietary supplements is an ongoing debate. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) checks and regulates prescription medications, they do not have much authority over dietary supplements.

Each respective company is responsible for ensuring their product is safe. However, they are not required to share information on the safety of their product with the FDA, and the FDA does not evaluate it before it is sold. If the FDA receives reports of possible safety concerns of a supplement, they may issue warnings, and take the products off the market.