Herbal Dietary Supplements

Herbal dietary supplements are currently being used to treat and enhance many different physical and mental conditions. In fact, the American Botanical Council estimates that Americans spent approximately 260 million dollars on herbal dietary supplements in the year 2004. The council has even ranked the top twenty herbs based on their sales in the United States.

What Is an Herbal Dietary Supplement?

Webster's Dictionary defines an herb as a plant or a part of a plant that is valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities. Thus it would logically follow that an herbal dietary supplement is any substance that is made out of herbs. To eliminate any confusion, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has formalized the following definition for all dietary supplements (with the exception of tobacco): a dietary supplement is intended to supplement the diet; contains one or more dietary ingredients (vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc.); is intended to be taken by mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid; and is labeled on the front panel as being a dietary supplement.

There are also several kinds of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that contain herbs. Of course, these products tend to be made from totally sanitized sections or derivatives of the herb. In addition, these medications are thoroughly tested and regulated by the FDA.

In contrast, herbal supplements can be made from any part of the herb. Herbal dietary supplements are sold in powdered, liquid, pill, dried and various other forms. With so much versatility, they can either be taken internally or applied directly to the skin.