Were you aware that herbal remedies are not tested or approved by the FDA? Do you think sales of the

Were you aware that herbal remedies are not tested or approved by the FDA? Do you think sales of these products would be affected if more people were aware of this? Explain your answer.

ANSWER

Herbal Remedies

I was aware that herbal supplements are not FDA approved as they are not subject to clinical trials and manufacturing standards as the traditional prescription medications. The FDA does not regulate the safety and sale of herbal medicines because they are classified as food products and not medicines (Mayo Clinic, 2021). Therefore they are not regulated by the strict standards that govern the sale of prescription drugs. Dietary supplements makers do not need the FDA to approve their supplements for them to sell them. Herbal remedies fall under this category. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to the suppliers before buying their products and ensure that their supplements are not contaminated. It is also important to research the supplements to ensure that the products do not have any adverse reactions or are not harmful.

If most people knew that the herbal remedies are not FDA approved, the sales of these products would reduce. This is because the products can cause serious side effects, leading to other complications, and nobody is to blame but the person who opted for the herbal remedies (Mayo Clinic, 2021). Most people try herbal remedies because they believe in natural healing. However, if they understood the scientific scrutiny done by the FDA before approving a medication, they would stick to buying FDA approved medication to protect themselves from getting harmed. People do many things out of ignorance. Therefore, if more people understood that herbal remedies could be harmful because they are not FDA approved, they would stop using the supplements and ask for their physician’s opinion before using any herbal remedies.

References

Mayo Clinic. (2021). Herbal Supplements: What you need to know before you buy. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/herbal-supplements/art-20046714