Daily HealthBeat Tip - July 11, 2007

To use it or not

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

If you take an herbal supplement, do you know if science supports the idea that it really will do what you want it to?

A study says two thirds of herbal supplement users don’t seek evidence-based backing that a product they use can work for the condition they have.

Aditya Bardia, who’s at the Mayo Clinic, did the study while at the University of Iowa. In addition to whether the supplement will work, he says supplements are not necessarily safe:

``These supplements, like any drugs, do have adverse effects. So if you’re taking an herbal supplement that is not based on scientific evidence, it could potentially cause harm.’’ (9 seconds)

It’s best to talk with your doctor.

The study in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July, 11 2007