Herbal medicines: challenges in the modern world. Part 4. Canada and United States

Abstract

Similar to other nations North American people used herbs for thousands of years to treat diseases and purify their spirits. By the middle of the 1900s, evidence-based conventional medicine received wide acceptance in Canada and the United States (US). Nowadays, people are going back to their roots and actively using herbal medicines (HMs) and natural health products (NHPs). Areas covered: This article is focusing on use and regulation of the HMs and NHPs in Canada and the US, raises concerns regarding HM and NHP safety and efficacy, offers suggestions on how to overcome these problems. Materials available from legislative and governmental websites, PubMed and news media were used. Expert commentary: Use of HMs, especially dietary supplements is widespread among adults in Canada and US. HMs and NHPs are regulated in both countries, but minimum criteria for product approval and post-market surveillance have been set. Concerns of quality, contamination, adulteration, and efficacy in are of central importance in the discussion of HMs and NHPs. Detailed product description and research are of vital importance to ensure safety and efficacy of these products. Additionally, 'herbal' education of healthcare providers and patients is needed to guarantee further successful integration of HM and conventional medicines.

Selection and characterization of botanical natural products for research studies: a NaPDI center recommended approach

“…Obtaining botanical natural product study material 5.1 Voucher specimens 5. 2 Contracting an independent laboratory to prepare study material 5.3 Purchasing study material from a commercial supplier 5. 4 Optimal number of samples to analyze 5.5…”

“…More than 50% of Americans acknowledge taking dietary supplements, 1,2 with sales more than tripling since passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994. 3,4 In many cases, these dietary supplements are prepared from Dr Joshua J. Kellogg obtained his PhD in natural product chemistry and ethnobotanical nutraceuticals from North Carolina State University.…”

Opinions of pharmacists and herbalists on herbal medicine use and receiving herbal medicine education in Jordan

“…Postgraduate diplomas and master courses are also available for herbalists interested in further HM studies and specialization [22]. Providing education to herbalists and pharmacists would be useful to guarantee the successful concurrent use of HM and conventional medicines [3,4]. It would be of great benefit to implement different strategies in Jordanian universities in coordination with pharmacy faculty members to offer interprofessional courses that focus on HM use and practice.…”

“…Patients also appreciate their active role and perceived autonomy in choosing HM [1]. However, concerns about the quality, contamination, safety, and efficacy of many HMs continue to be of high concern [2,4]. Potential side effects and interactions between HMs and conventional drugs have been documented [5], but a patient's request for a licensed HM can be approved if there is no conventional concomitant co-medication that is known or expected to interact, no contra-indication, and no other conventional treatment with a better benefit-risk ratio [6].…”

Isoflavone Stability, Quality Control Assessment and Clinical Safety of Q-CAN® Plus, a Novel Fermented Beverage

“…This along with different fermentation conditions has resulted in a vast range of fermented food products. This high level of variety, and typically little characterization, has made it very challenging for individuals wanting to avail themselves of the benefits of fermented foods to do so in a reliable and safe manner [4][5][6].…”