Herbal Dietary Supplements

Question: any one know of dietary chinese herbal supplements? my doctor suggested a chinese dietary herbal supplement called Jia Wei Fang Feng Tong Shen Wan i havent had any luck finding any information on it does any one kno of any websites that might have information in this product. i want to know what it does how its used, how it works, side effects and what the success rate is and wether the product is safe to use.... any information is greatly appreciated in advanced....

Answer: It is a great formula and here it is from a trustworthy company. http://www.holisticchineseherbs.com/healthconcerns/astra18diet.html It is safe and effective. If you are using it with medications always let your doctor know. If you want an acupuncturist check out http://www.tcmdirectory.com

Question: Please help: traveling with herbal supplements through SE Asian customs. How can I ensure success? I'll be going on a 3-month backpacking trip to Singapore and other SE Asian destinations, and I need to bring with me a large supply of herbal dietary supplements for health maintenance (no, not THOSE herbs). I'm concerned about two things: 1) the large quantity I'll be bringing (6 bags of about 360 count 1,000 mg capsules) and 2) the fact that they will be in clear zip-lock bags with no labels identifying the contents (there is no original packaging with labeling because my nutritionist receives these herbs in bulk, and then passes them on to me). The Singapore customs Web site states a person can bring a 3-month supply of "medicines" without declaring anything or getting special permission, as long as they aren't controlled substances (mine aren't). But he or she must have accompanying documents, such as "a physician's note and/or prescription" (I can get a note but obviously not a prescription since they are natural herbs). But, will a note be enough? Suggestions?

Answer: Check in the luggage.

Question: Xanax and Herbal/Dietary Supplements? On the bottle it says "Herbal and dietary supplements may interact with this medicine", would it be safe to combine with multivitamins, protein powder?

Answer: Yes, it means it is bad to mix with over the counter drugs - not vitamins or shakes.

Question: Why has the government not acted more aggressively to regulate herbal and other dietary supplements? Why are many complimentary and alternative medicine forms of treatments not covered under typical insurance plans?

Answer: They already do regulate supplements through many channels, but unfortunately they are too understaffed and underfunded to be able to catch everything. That's exactly why there are more harmful drugs that are being recalled and so many scamming companies selling fake supplements among other things. The best line of defense that supplements have are the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and USP (U.S. Pharmacopoeia) ratings as those are the main quality assurance organizations (USP is for the U.S., GMP is for the U.S. and worldwide). On the flip side of that, if the government regulated supplements more, some people are afraid that they would be more restricted like other countries have... perhaps to the point where it would require a prescription to get a simple herb or even a multivitamin. Granted, those are theories, but people are still worried about it. As to your second question, insurance companies tend to want to pay for as little as they need to, so they will minimize claims as much as possible. It's virtually impossible to prove "preventative" will successfully prevent an illness, injury, or other damage, so insurance companies tend to be more than happy to deny it without 100% proof. Thankfully, more insurance companies are approving Chiropractic, massage (sports medicine), and Acupuncture for recovery purposes (although not for preventative), so at least our culture is going more in that direction. I hope I helped!

Question: Herbal or Dietary Supplements? I was wondering if anyone had a good and reliable website for buying herbal or dietary supplements online. Any suggestions would help. Thank You

Answer: Here is a good site for Herbal and dietary supplements: www.shopherbalife.com/tfward

Question: Anyone heard about or have personal experience with the herbal dietary supplement chlorophyll? Someone told me that this herbal dietary supplement is good for anemia- which i suffer from. Any ideas about the benefits of it?

Answer: Chlorophyll, the green pigment that gives plants their color, has no function in the human body. That fact hasn't stopped marketers from promoting supplements containing chlorophyll and suggesting that it can benefit patients with conditions ranging from cancer to arthritis to multiple sclerosis (MS). Chlorophyll can't hurt, but it isn't an immune booster. Before taking supplements, you need to determine the underlying cause of your anemia. It's especially important to see a doctor about iron-deficiency anemia, which may be caused by internal bleeding. If you're advised to take supplements, have blood work every month to see if they are worthwhile. If iron-deficiency anemia is diagnosed, the mineral iron combined with vitamin C may be of value. Take iron only under your doctor's supervision, because too much can be dangerous.

Question: Any ideas for dietary supplements or herbal remedies to help with my 5 y.o.'s anxiety? Wondering if Bach's Rescue Remedy is OK for kids when needed. I'm checking in with Doc next week, but always looking for other ideas too.

Answer: Don't listen to advice on here from people who don't have a clue. What works for an adult can be deadly to a 5 year old. Stick with what your doctor recommends. I would suggest that you lean more toward therapy and relaxation techniques than medication for someone so young.

Question: What is the worst nutritional advice, dietary supplement, herbal supplement? I have to do a media critique on any one of the types of topics given above. An example would be Atkins Diets or the Subway diet. I want to do one that has a commercial and that comically evil or untrustworthy.

Answer: Oh, there are so many good answers to this... of course, most of them revolve around improper dosages. Personally, I think the worst nutritional advice is any "elimination diet" that says to completely remove an entire food group to lose weight. That includes Atkins, Blood-type diets, etc. Completely eliminating an entire category of nutrients just starves your body of those nutrients. Along the same lines, I don't like fat blockers and carb blockers as dietary supplements (even though we sell them, I try to steer customers away from them). I don't see the "subway diet" as bad because it encourages healthy eating and exercise, but I think it's a bit bad of the company to say that you should eat all of your meals there to lose weight... it just takes healthier eating and it doesn't require a $5-8 sandwich/meal to do it. I hope I helped!

Question: Guys: What are the best lifestyle/dietary/herbal/supplement tips for supporting/maintaining prostate health? Not interested in prescription drugs. What websites have the best in-depth information about this subject?

Answer: Hypoxis rooperi and Sabal serrulata are also well known for improving prostate health, supporting the immune system and guarding against urinary tract infection. In Europe and many other countries, natural remedies are widely prescribed even by conventional doctors to treat prostate conditions as well as promote prostate health in a preventative manner. Remember, always source your natural remedies from a reputable company in order to ensure maximum safety, therapeutic dosage and best efficacy. Epilobium Parviflorum has an inflammation-inhibiting and healing effect on acute and chronic inflammation of the prostate and can help to reduce the gland to its normal size. You may get additional details over here http://www.healthherbsandnutrition.com/products/prostatedr.htm and http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Effective-Are-Herbal-Remedies-As-Natural-Cures-for-Prostate-Cancer?&id=263497

Question: Searching for an herbal dietary supplement.? I have taken the medicine Bontril in the past, but I am looking for an herbal dietary suppressor. Thanks for the information.

Answer: Herbals don't really work for me, and I have strong reservations for anything you have to put inside your body. Try meditation, it's got tons more benefits and you're not prone to any serious side effect.

Question: Do the nonpresciption(dietary supplement) herbal pills work effectively without sideeffects ? For example,pills /tablets for increasing esterogen,minimising menopausal symptoms in women,improving sexlife in both males and females?Do these tablets come fully safe without after effects like allopathic medicines? Just curious.

Answer: I do not believe you can get a qualified, non-biased answer to your question. I have lived outside the USA and found the practice of medicine to be quite different. In the USA, the Food and Drug Administration and Pharmaceudical caompanies are wealthy and powerful ; they could lose a lot of their wealth if herbal medicines replaced them. On the other hand, herbal medicines are not monitored for safety and benefit by a governing agency. So, their efficacy cannot be proven. There are some herbal remedies (like blood thinners) that could be dangerous, probably because they DO work, but there is no professional caregiver monitoring the effects. Also, there are anti-depressant herbs (according to herbologists) that would be dangerous (if they do work) if given to people who could be manic-depressive. There is no way to establish a YAY or NAY to your question until there are scientific studies done, and the FDA is not in a hurry to do them. I know of two non-prescription medications which work : alcohol and marijuana. There are plenty of personal testimonies regarding their ability to do the job. As for vitamin supplements : there are no standards. I wouldn't know whether to take 24,000mg of C per day (1K per hr), which is what a naturopath has recommended to me, or 500mg in the morning (which is what the bottle says). So, no standards, no standards. And, I do believe Americans have the best health care available in the world (IF you have insurance). The best way to find a non-biased answer to your Q is to find a nutritionist and be prepared (by reading up on the subject) to ask the right Qs. Good Luck !

Question: Should all herbal supplements have a label indicating "no approved therapeutic claim" on it? if yes or no then why? i'm much bothered by this issue because as I can remember, My pharmacist friend told me before that all herbal supplement must have a label saying "no approved........claim" but i never asked why... and now, when i friend introduced to us a herbal dietary supplements newly introducing it's product here in Macao a product, I noticed that all of it have no label at all.. The company claims that it's from Lake forest, CA and made by Bio Therapy Lab. All that was labeled in the product w/c we bought (OPTICARE - for poop eyesight) was " to improve & maintain health. The salesperson claims that some of their product is so effective, it healed a very sick girl. it can also remove a kidney stone by their detox supplement. it is so expensive but the price is not a problem at all. I'm quite scared it's fraud or hoax or scam. how would i know? please help. it also doesn't have the pamplet/leaflet inside indicating the ingredients or etc.

Answer: The 1996 Federal DSHEA (Dietary Supplement Health Education Act) Law requires that ALL supplements carry the disclaimer that they are not intended to treat or diagnose a condition. And you want to be glad for it - because otherwise every charleton would be selling fluff that "cured" everything. Anytime someone is relying on testimonial (It healed someone miraculously) I am skeptical. Thats actually a weak claim of merit intended to pull on your heart strings

Question: How effective are dietary supplements that claim to increase a woman's libido? For example "Lioness." Also are there any known side effects of these herbal supplements? Most importantly will they interact with my birth control pills?

Answer: All such products are a total and complete waste of time and money. What increases a woman's libido is being with the right man. All herbal products have side effects and they are poorly regulated by the FDA for safety and effectiveness. Don't waste your money or time.

Question: Any bad side effects from taking this Psyllium Hulls Herbal Dietary Supplement? Heres the supplement facts, Proprietary blend 7g* Psyllium Seed Hulls (Plantago ovata) Hibiscus Flowers (Hibiscus sabdariffa) Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) Serving size 2 Teaspoons

Answer: No, it is for colon cleansing and regularity. If you find yourself constipated, stop taking it. I don't know which brand you are using, but you might research it at an independent place like NutritionalTree.com before continuing use. They collect user reviews on these types of products.

Question: Do GNC Nature's Fingerprint Cranberry Herbal Supplement pills really work as a dietary supplement? ? I want to lose weight, but not by the unhealthy diet pills most weight watchers buy. I want something healthy that helps a little. I work out and eat as healthy as I can, so it's not like I'm looking to lose a lot of weight I just want to know if the pills I am taking now.. GNC Nature's Fingerprint Cranberry Supplements really help to lose weight?

Answer: it's not going to be a noticable difference, none at all if your already eating right and some multi-vitamins they sell there come with a variety of ground up herbs and such to help absorption. So I wouldn't waste your time with it, and of course you could just eat cranberrys it's better for you and better absorption of hte nutrients.

Question: Are herbal supplements safe with prescription meds? I'm taking some prescription medication and wondered if I can take something called Acai Berry with a Colon Cleanse? The Acai is a dietary supplement. My doctor is not in but I wondered if someone would have an idea about this mixture? I take very low doses of Levothyroxine, Toprol, Celexa and Xanax. Thanks for any help.

Answer: The Acai berry should not be any problem for you. However, the Colon Cleanse might. Does the Colon Cleanse product contain large amounts of fiber and/or bentonite clay? If so, don't take it at the same time you take your other meds, as it may sequester the meds in your intestinal tract and prevent their absorbtion. Give yourself at least two hours between the doses of colon cleanse and meds, just to be sure.