Herbal supplements are primarily products that contain specific herbal extracts, herbs or other botanical ingredients. It is important to realize that herbal supplements are not a medical product or a medical drug; they are classified as a type of dietary supplement, or as a food product containing an herbs or other botanical ingredient. Herbal supplements may include; bark, flowers, fruit, leaves, roots, seeds, stems, sea weeds and many other botanicals. Herbal supplements can come in the form of an herbal singly (single herb, or single herb and other ingredients) or herbal compound (mixtures of different Herbs and ingredients).

It is only common sense that herbs and the use of herbs have been with the human race for almost as long as we first placed food to our mouths. In the beginning the herbal supplements came fresh from nature, reach down and grab some herbs and other vegetation that was good to eat! It was in the eating of such herbs and other botanicals that obviously humans found out very directly the effect they had on the body, mind and spirit. With the increased popularity of herbal products and supplements, http://www.marketresearch.com/browse.asp?categoryid=189&g=1 it has become even more important to look for reliable sources of information on herbal supplements in order to evaluate and make informed decisions about the claims that are made by the manufacturer or seller. It should be noted that what applies to herbal supplements should apply to all dietary supplements as well. The following are suggestions on what you can do to be as informed as possible:

• - Asking a herbal or naturopathic professional, even if they do not know about a specific herb or supplement by brand, they will be able to give advice on the herbal content of the supplement. In addition they will more than likely have access to the latest information on the herbals including medical guidance on its uses and risks.
• - The internet is one place to look for scientific research findings on herbs and herbal supplements. The government and health ministries at the federal, state/Provincial and even local city are also good sources for information.

Uses of Herbal Supplements: Some of the more popular uses of herbal supplements include:

• - Dietary support and balancing
• - Herbal remedies (under the advice of a qualified professional)
• - Weight loss
• - Hair loss
• - Skin conditioning
• - Sunburns
• - Skin irritations
• - General health
• - Spiritual practices and rituals

If you are thinking about using an herbal supplement product, here are some practical points to keep in mind.

• - Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative health or wellbeing practices you use, including herbal supplements as well as diet.
• - Read the labels both contents and instructions and always consult an herbal professional such as an Herbalist or Naturopath on all herbal products or supplements.
• - If you experience any side effects that concern you, stop taking the herbal supplement, and contact your health care provider, naturopath and herbalist.
• - Keep in mind that although true herbal supplements contain natural herbs and or botanicals, this does not necessarily mean they are safe. There are herbs/botanicals that can cause serious harm; you wouldn’t want to take a wrong or unknown herb. In addition many supplements contain more than just the herbal ingredients; it is advisable that you know what you are digesting. http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=2&tax_subject=274&topic_id=1328
• - Keep in mind that the terms used on herbal supplements, such as "standardized", or "certified" are often only subjective measures and not a guarantee of a products quality, reliability or safety.
• - Buy known products, buy recommended products, consult an expert. While rare, there have been cases of unscrupulous people trying to passing off fake herbal supplements.

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor, herbalist, or Naturopathic Doctor before beginning or trying any product, service or information found on this page or the links.