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OSU researcher to speak on herbals By BILL KETTLER Can soy protein really put a chill on hot flashes? Will saw palmetto shrink a swollen prostate? Can glucosamine take the ache out of stiff joints? Americans spend billions on herbal remedies, but much of that money is wasted on products that have no proven medicinal value, says an Oregon State University researcher coming here to talk about natural medicines. George Constantine says consumers need to do their homework to make sure they don't waste money on useless products or buy herbs that could actually harm them. "There's a whole lot of overzealous marketers selling things that don't have any value," says Constantine, a retired pharmacy professor who has written a buyer's guide to herbal medicines. Constantine is scheduled to speak Tuesday at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center in Central Point and Thursday at the Josephine County Extension Auditorium. He taught courses in chemistry, chemotherapy, drug abuse, medical ethics, gerontology and alternative medicine. He built on the work of internationally-known herbalist Varro Tyler to write "Tyler's Tips - The Shopper's Guide for Herbal Remedies." Constantine says consumers must use caution when buying herbal remedies because the federal government does not require manufacturers to prove the health claims they make. Herbal remedies are regulated by the Dietary Supplements Health Education Act of 1994, which exempts manufacturers from conducting scientific research to prove any health claims they make for their products as long as they do not claim to cure a disease. The act puts herbal remedies into a separate regulatory class that lacks the rigid purity standards applied to foods and the scientific tests required of drugs. "You or I could grind up some leaves and say great-grandpa used it to treat sore toes," he said. "The only way the Food and Drug Administration can regulate a product is if somebody gets sick." He says consumers must use herbs with caution, because some herbs can cause health problems or interact with drugs. Ginkgo, sold for a variety of uses, can cause bleeding. Aristolochia, a Chinese herb used as a sedative, has been linked to kidney dysfunction and caused at least two deaths in Europe. Constantine says scientific research has confirmed the medicinal value of about 40 herbal remedies, including glucosamine, saw palmetto and soy protein. But there's been no research to confirm the claims made by the manufacturers of hundreds of other herbal remedies. Constantine says consumer protection organizations provide useful information about the efficacy and purity of herbal remedies. Consumers Union, the organization that produces Consumer Reports magazine, has analyzed herbal remedies such as glucosamine to determine whether manufacturers actually provide the dosage they claim on their labels. An Internet-based organization called Consumerlab.com also analyzes herbal remedies, but charges a subscription fee for its information. Constantine says herbal-remedy fraud has declined over the past three years because consumer organizations have exposed many unscrupulous manufacturers. "Three years ago, 50 to 60 percent (of herbal remedies) failed to have the ingredients that were listed on the label. Now 70 to 80 percent are passing. Now manufacturers realize quality is essential." Constantine says the best way to avoid fraudulent remedies is to buy from large manufacturers that have an established reputation they want to protect. Ultimately, he says, the Food and Drug Administration will have to face the question of whether herbal remedies are drugs in disguise, food supplements or foods, and develop appropriate rules for regulating them. Reach reporter Bill Kettler at 776-4492, or e-mail [email protected] If you go Admission is $15. For more information call Sharon Johnson at 776-7371. Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.