Herbal Supplements

Excerpt

Herbal products, botanical products, or phytomedicines are derived from plants or botanicals to maintain health or treat diseases. Herbal supplements are products specifically used for internal use. A large number of prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications originate from plant derivatives. These medications differ from herbal supplements as they use Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-regulated, purified ingredients. However, the FDA does not regulate the manufacture of herbal supplements. Therefore, preparations may contain a portion of the plant or the whole plant and vary in consistency. These supplements are most commonly sold in solid forms, such as capsules, pills, tablets, and lozenges, but are also available in liquid or powder forms.

This activity focuses on the following herbal supplements commonly utilized in the United States:

1. Saw palmetto

2. Garlic

3. Ginkgo biloba

4. Echinacea

5. Black cohosh

6. Ginseng

7. Hawthorn

8. St. John's wort

9. Goldenseal

10. Feverfew

11. Capsaicin