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There are no guarantees of purity, safety, and
reliability when it comes to herbal over the counter products,
since herbal manufacturers are not required to follow FDA
efficacy or safety standards.
So, how can you at least get some assurance that an herbal
supplement bottle contains what is listed on the label?
The US Pharmacopeia Convention (www.usp.org) keeps that
information in its Dietary |
Supplement Verification Program.
Here are a few rough guidelines to use in selecting “good”
over the counter herbal products for your family.
The label will contain:
*the USPC or National Registry Seal or Certificate
*the botanical name of the herb is listed
*the words “Standardized Extract”
*the exact amount of the specific “active” ingredient
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*the
dosage you should take in milligrams *an expiration date
with a batch or lot number
*the name and address of the manufacturer
Keeping these rough guidelines in mind while choosing herbal
supplements may help you avoid unwanted side effects and the
unpleasant experience of feeling as if you wasted your money for
something that doesn’t work.
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