Consumer Reports: Advice for Safe Use of Herbal Remedies as Botanicas Flourish in Latino Communities

YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Botanicas flourish in many U.S. urban areas, following the domestic migration patterns of the Hispanic community.  As Hispanic consumers look to Botanicas as a resource for complementary medicine—mainly herbal remedies—Consumer Reports offers some advice on the safe use of these treatments which are not subject to close government oversight.  The full report is available at www.ConsumerReports.org.

"Botanicas are important purveyors of health care and wellness in the Hispanic community because they offer traditional cultural connections that can give emotional and spiritual support when fighting a disease or treating a chronic condition," says Jose Luis Mosquera, M.D., medical adviser to Consumer Reports and a board certified physician trained in integrative-medicine.

Botanicas sell medicinal plants, religious objects and other artifacts for physical and spiritual healing. Latinos look to Botanicas for a holistic approach to treating their illnesses, welcoming the advice offered by a healer who often speaks their language and understands their cultural traditions.    

Recent government surveys estimate that one in four Hispanics use complementary medicine for a variety of ailments to treat conditions that are typically self-limiting, such as a cold or upset stomach.  When it comes to using herbs on a longer term basis to treat more serious chronic conditions, Consumer Reports recommends proceeding with caution.  

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stepped up efforts to develop "good manufacturing practices" to address concerns such as product purity and quality control, none of these recommendations are obligatory. That puts the onus on consumers to be vigilant about the safe use of herbal remedies. 

Here are some tips for safe use of herbal remedies:

• Natural does not mean safe.  There are natural plants, such as Belladona and some mushrooms, that can be poisonous.  Some herbs and supplements may cause harm if you are pregnant, nursing, preparing for surgery, or taking prescription medicines.
  
• When purchasing pills, look for the USP Verified label.  Since there is little or no oversight on industry compliance with the FDA's "good manufacturing practices," the consumer of dietary supplements must exert constant vigilance. If you're shopping for supplements manufactured in pill form, look for the small number of herbal products tested by the United States Pharmacopeia that bear the words "USP Verified" on their label. Those have been tested for identity, purity, potency, and dangerous contaminants.
  
• Don't mix medications and herbs on your own.  Herbal remedies can decrease the effectiveness of some prescription drugs while others can have the opposite effect, heightening the action of a prescription drug.  For example, garlic can increase the blood thinning effects of anti-coagulant and anti-platelet drugs and might increase the effects of certain diabetes drugs.  Before taking herbs, talk to your doctor about the implications of combining them with your prescription medications.
  
• Seek a trained practitioner.  A trained practitioner understands the intricacies of each herb and the fact that not all forms of an herbal medicine produce the same effects.  For example, tea made from saw palmetto probably has no health benefits since the active compounds don't dissolve in water. In addition, different parts of the same herb can have different effects.  Dandelion leaves may act as a diuretic, but the roots act as a laxative.  Remedies made from sassafras root may contain safrole, a noted carcinogen, and even those that say "safrole free" may not be.
  
• Be wary of private label supplements.  Doctors and practitioners who sell their own branded products may have a conflict of interest. The American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians advise that if physicians decide to distribute non-prescription health related products to their patients, they should provide them free of charge or at cost. This removes the temptation of personal profit than can interfere with a physician's objective clinical judgment.
  
• Consider seeing an integrative physician.  Integrative medicine is a holistic method, based on clinical evidence, where patients' traditions and cultural background are taken into consideration.  Its practice has gained traction over the years; the report notes that 50 academic health centers belong to the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine.

This report was made possible by a grant from the Airborne Cy Pres Fund, which was established through a legal settlement of a national class-action lawsuit regarding deceptive advertising practices.

Consumer Reports is the world's largest independent product-testing organization. Using its more than 50 labs, auto test center, and survey research center, the nonprofit rates thousands of products and services annually. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has over 8 million subscribers to its magazine, website and other publications.  Its advocacy division, Consumers Union, works for health reform, product safety, financial reform, and other consumer issues in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace.

FEBRUARY 2012

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