The Truth About organic herbal supplements: 5 Things You Should Know

Grouped under complementary & alternative medicine (CAM), the use of herbal supplements has only doubled in the last 20 years among the US population.

“I know what’s good for me,” a.k.a., self-medication with herbal supplements, is the new rage these days. From social media influencers to fitness gurus and even established health brands, they zealously promote herbal supplements, claiming a plethora of benefits that include maintenance of physical and mental well-being, boosting memory, helping in weight loss, and more.

There’s an issue here! People have the misconception that organic herbal supplements are harmless because they are derived from natural resources. BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE!

You’d be surprised to know that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t impose any regulations on herbal supplements to assess their purity or potency before market launch—much in contrary to what they always do with the conventional drugs (i.e., prescription or over-the-counter drugs) present in the market.

Several research groups are worried about the rising health risks of herbal supplements. Hazardous ingredients (which are either intentionally mislabeled or not listed by the companies), contaminants, fillers, and herb-drug interactions (HDI) with commonly prescribed medications can all contribute to these risks.

In this blog, we’ll explore the flip side of herbal supplements—one that is often hidden from public view and not much marketed—the shady side!

You can call them a specific type of dietary supplement that contains one or more herbs and is available to the public without a prescription.

The 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) holds a standardized definition for dietary supplements. It says,

“Dietary supplements are healthcare products made of one or more dietary ingredients, such as minerals, vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, herbs and other botanicals, tissues from organs/glands, or their extracts, that fulfill an individual's diet needs, thus enhancing his physical and mental health. These supplements were available in tablet, capsule, powder, liquid, etc. for oral consumption only. You can also find them as teas, fresh or dried plants, and more.”

A dietary supplement that is primarily sourced from the roots, stems, flowers, fruits, seeds, and other parts of a plant, herb, shrub, or tree is known as an herbal health product.  

Wait! We haven’t talked about the “organic” part of the supplements yet. So what does it mean? An organic supplement obtains its ingredients from plants/herbs that are grown and processed without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides (that are termed “prohibited substances” in organic farming).

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tells us that any produce (i.e., crop, plant, or herb) can be labeled as “organic” only if the soil it has grown on didn't receive any prohibited substances for about 3 years prior to its harvest. Another thing to note is that natural fertilizers such as compost, manure, slurry, etc. don’t fall on the prohibited list.

An old 2008 study found that there are at least 20,000 herbal products sold in the US that lack efficacy. Their numbers have obviously spiked over the years. Plus, some reports indicate that impure herbs are introduced to the market at an alarming rate.

Most people have a preconceived opinion that “natural” means “safe and healthy.” This prevents them from disclosing or discussing (to their doctors) any herbal supplements that they may be actively using.

In 2020, a systematic review was conducted among patients with cancer or other chronic illnesses to find out the reasons that could propel them to indulge in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), including the use of organic herbal supplements. They were:

• (Marketed) benefits of herbal supplements .
• Safety.
• Not satisfied with conventional (or western) medicine.
• Influence from family or friends (social network).
• Self-desire; willingness to try something new.
• Recommendations by health experts or practitioners.
• Easy availability in the market.
• Could be a part of their culture or existing traditions.
• Effective for overall well-being (holistic approach).

• Allergic reactions.
• Genotoxicity (causing harmful effects on a cell’s genetic materials—DNA, RNA or both—due to chemicals) .
• Carcinogenicity (turning normal cells into cancer cells—giving rise to tumors; increasing occurrence and malignancy of tumors).
• Organ damage or failure.
• Teratogenicity (disturbing the growth and development of an embryo or fetus).
• Or other fatality that can result in an ER visit or serious hospitalization.

1. According to the FDA, unless the herbal supplements pass a standard evaluatory test as conventional drugs do, manufacturers can’t make health claims about their ability to “diagnose, mitigate, treat, cure, or prevent a specific or class of diseases.”
2. All manufacturers must be transparent about the composition and production of their herbal supplements. They must include the below information on their packaging label:

• Name of the product or supplement.
• Name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.
• Full list of ingredients.
• Amount/quantity of the product or supplement in the container or package.
• Not FDA-evaluated and "not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease" (in the event that it didn't go through the evaluation assessment).
• Nutritional information in case of nutraceutical products.

Any adverse health effects or allergen information that the herbal supplements can lead to should also be listed on the label. Plus, any health claims (that are permissible to be included) regarding their benefits or functioning can find a place for themselves too on the label.

3. There is a Safety Reporting Portal (under the FDA) open for consumers, healthcare providers, researchers, manufacturers, packers, and distributors who can submit reports or complaints on “unsafe” herbal supplements and their harmful reactions to the human body post-consumption. The FDA promises to take severe action against health-fraud scams or unproven claims.

Plus, consumers can also directly communicate with the local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator (in their area) to report illnesses or human-drug interactions (HDI) caused by using a herbal health product.

4. There are two types of externally added impurities in herbal products: Contaminants & Adulterants

• First, let’s study the contaminants—particularly heavy metals and microbes.

• Second, let’s get to the adulterants.

5. According to a 2013 Icelandic study, the use of herbal and dietary supplements (HDS) was to blame for 16% of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) cases.

In addition, a US DILI Network (DILIN) study found that the cases of liver injury due to HDS shot up from 7% to 20% in the period between 2004 and 2013. Such cases resulted in hospitalization, liver transplantation, or death.

Researchers highlight that physicians (and other healthcare providers) can play a key role in reducing the risks of herbal supplements. They can adopt a non-judgmental mindset so that their patients feel comfortable and are encouraged to share accounts of any ongoing or past supplement usage. More herb-drug interaction (HDI) instruments ought to be used to identify potential risks of death associated with herbal supplements.

Other resolutions include: mandatory formal training of physicians (in matters of CAM); setting up a “pharmaco-vigilance system” that enforces strict regulations on the extraction, manufacturing, and marketing of herbal products; reporting cases of adverse reactions (to the human body on consuming supplements) to the FDA without fail (for policy updates if necessary); and “efficacy in clinical practice.”

You may think you’re using the best natural weight-loss supplement. But a closer look at the ingredient list at the back and a little research about how safe these ingredients actually are can tell you a whole different story. For guidance, we always suggest visiting a board-certified CAM practitioner or even your regular physician.