it just doesn't DO that

It is no secret that I do not endorse the use of herbal supplements for any condition. I am not an herbalist or physician so my not endorsing something doesn’t really have practice implications, but as a health educator I will share my reasons. There is very little evidence to support that the use of herbal products has any positive effect on health. Instead there is research that indicates a risk for detriment – to say nothing of the impact on your bank account.

Herbals include ginger, ginkgo biloba, garlic and ginseng to name a few. And the reason I name these few is because they were the target of a pretty interesting undercover operation of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the USA.

As you may be aware, the FDA does not approve supplements but is responsible for evaluating complaints on adverse outcomes and contamination if such issues come to light once the pills are on the market. The FTC has the responsibility of assessing label claims, which are really not allowed in anything more than a general sense. So the GAO sent investigators to several retail sights and also contacted website sites that sell these products – under cover of course.

Several misleading claims were made in print and verbally for which the FTC is now involved. Contaminants were also found in 37 of the 40 products that were independently tested. Of course, the lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and pesticide residue was NOT found at a level that the FDA and EPA think are harmful – “hello? I’ll take mine without the lead please and thank you very much.” [note that McDonald’s has just today recalled its plastic Shrek tumblers because they contain cadmium”

The study was commissioned in large part due to the marketing claims made towards the aging population – oh those baby boomers and their quest for memory enhancement and cholesterol control – the GAO wants you to know:
Gingko biloba does not treat or prevent Alzheimer’s, erectile dysfunction or depression. Garlic does not treat obesity, heart disease or hypertension and ginseng does not cure cancer. There is much more to read in this report, which as a government document, is available in full here.