How are Herbal Supplements Caveat Emptor?

In countries like the United States, weight control is a very serious issue that is a matter of life and death. The US population has one of the largest numbers of obese and overweight people. Because of this, there is now a huge and growing demand for quick and easy weight loss systems. Despite the seemingly countless "miracle" diet plans available to the public, there has yet to be a product or method that allows for fast, easy and physically safe weight loss like herbal supplements. The most well-known herbal supplements are ephedrine, guarana, St. John's wort, and senna. They generally work as "fat burners" by boosting metabolism. They can be successful weight loss supplements - but only in the short term. One should be warned in time about the possible side effects of these so-called "miracle" dietary supplements. Like all other medicines, herbal supplements are not without side effects. Many over-the-counter (OTC) herbal supplements that are readily available in pharmacies and health food stores lack product literature. In addition, customers looking for supplements in health food stores may receive useless or even deadly advice from salespeople who are not very knowledgeable about the products they are selling. Some only know that the products are for weight loss and that they need to be sold and shipped for business, which will convince any buyer that this is the best weight loss pill. As a result of Congress deregulating the health food industry with the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DHEA), the business of giving away unproven drugs has grown to a $15 billion business. Doctors and legitimate herbalists alike are beginning to worry that many people are spending their money on substances that will not help them and may even harm them. Until recently, government oversight and consumer protection were very limited to products that were classified as dietary supplements. But new regulations contained in the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act give the FDA, the federal agency responsible for overseeing the safety of food and drug products in the US, the power to oversee the manufacture of domestic and foreign dietary supplements, including herbal supplements. The regulations require supplement manufacturers to evaluate the identity, purity, strength, and composition of their dietary supplements to ensure they contain what their labels claim and are free of contaminants. The new regulations will be phased in over the next three years, so not all supplements are currently being tested. The fine line between selling and giving medical advice also applies to the health food industry, researchers say. Those selling supplements should know their product, but should not be giving any medical advice. To be safe, retailers should not go too far beyond label information. In today's deregulated climate, consumers should educate themselves before even entering a health food store and read up on supplements before they go to the st. They should also get information from someone who is not selling the product. So when it comes to piecing in a health food store, the quality of the 'advice' given is anyone's guess and the neighborhood agrees with one of the shop's principles… caveat emptor 'or'  let the buyer beware.