Herbs and “Health Foods”

By: Adrielle Shine AdaCaryl Faye Tamara

Tracy ElechiconGraceshel Ann Marie Yap

Rezyl Jane RegondonBS Pharmacy 2A

Legality of Sale

Herbs or “health foods” -Used in self-treatment of disease states or less-than-optimal health conditions with various products of natural origin. -They are NOT drugs or medicinal agents.

In the USA: •The 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act had initially required all drugs sold in the country to be proved safe. •The 1962 Drug Amendments required that drugs marketed after 1938 be proved both safe and effective.

• New Drug Application (NDA) – determines if the drug is proven effective.

• Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) – determines the effectiveness of drugs.

• The agency declared that the drug, even though exempt from proofs of safety and efficacy under existing laws, was barred from commerce if any part of the labeling claimed that the drug was “good” for anything, that is, “effective” for the treatment of a disease state.

In the Philippines: •DOH Administrative Order 2010-0008 was issued mainly to inform the public that food/dietary supplements are not drugs and should not be used to treat disease. As the State's main arm in the task of promoting and protecting the health of the people the DOH must explore all possible means to fulfill its mandate. •Claims as to the suitability of a food for use in the prevention, alleviation, treatment or cure of disease, disorder or particular physiological conditions are also prohibited.

The Pharmacist: •Must be able to provide information as accurate as possible to patients who, through ignorance or desperation, may be tempted to utilize such products.•One must be alert to the need and opportunity to refer a patient for more traditional contemporary health care when indicated, but must maintain credibility and lines of communication by avoiding categorical “turn-off” comments such as “it is worthless”.

“Natural” and “Organic”

• Natural – applied to such materials, identifies only as source and not necessarily a degree of superiority or inferiority.

• Organic – applied to “health foods”, implied that the produce was grown under conditions utilizing only natural fertilizers, such as manure, and that no pesticides of any type were applied.

Safety and Efficacy Considerations

• Placebo effect – a medication action that is independent of, or minimally related to, the specific effects of the procedure or drug employed.

• Effective in about 35% of the Px to whom they are administered.

Herbs and “Health Foods”

•Present a number of hazards•Self-selected nontherapeutic agents may prevent, or at least delay, the Px from seeking and obtaining needed medical tx for serious ailment. •No applicable standards of quality (misbranded)•Not standardize with respect to the contained concentrations of active constituents.•These products are relatively expensive and their routine use may prove quite costly. •Their use may have been superseded in medical practice by more potent or effective therapeutic agents.

Herbs and “Health Foods”

BO: Medicago sativaSyn: Alfalfa or lucerneUses: •Stimulant•Relieve arthritic conditions•Stimulate the apetite

*Monkeys fed quantities of Alfalfa sprouts develop SLE.

Alfalfa

BO: Aloe perfoliata L. Syn: Chinese AloeUses: •Tx of diabetes•Moisturizer•Shampoo•Tx elevated blood lipids in humansComponents: acetylated mannans, polymannans, anthraquinone C-glycosides, and various lectins.

Aloe

BO: Angelica archangelica Syn: Holy Ghost,

Wild CeleryUses:•Aromatic stimulant•Bronchial tonic•Carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic•Tx for rheumatismComponents: furocoumarins of the psolaren type includes gelicin, bergapten, imperatorin, xanthotoxin.

Angelica

BO: Prunus armeniaca L.Syn: Apricot kernelsUses:•Anticancer (irrational)Components:•Laetrile•Amygdalin

Apricot Pits

BO: Arnica montana L.Syn: Leopard's baneUses:•Anti-inflammatory•Analgesic•Antibiotic•For cardiac and circulatory purposesComponents: 2 sesquiterpenoid lactones, helenalin (develops contact dermatitis), dihydrohelenalin.

Arnica

BO: Ferula assafoetida L. Syn: Gum asalfetidaUses:•Caminative•Expectorant•Antispasmodic•LaxativeComponents: 20% V.O. (isobutylpropanyl disulfide), 40-65% resin (asaresinotannol, ferulic acid), 25% gum

Asafetida

BO: Euphorbia heterodoxa Syn: Killwart, Pobreng kahoy (Fil.)Uses:•Tx warts•Tx cancer & tumor•Tx cysts & fibromasComponents: diterpene esters with antileukemic activity (tumor promoters, cocarcinogens)

Aveloz

BO: Cimicifuga racemosa L.Syn: Black cohoshUses:•Tx for dysmenorrhea •Tx bronchitis, coughs &chronic rheumatism•Bitter tonics to Tx indigestion & loss of apetiteComponents: 15-20% resin (bitterness), saponins, glycosidic constituents.Toxicity: Bradycardia, tremors and vertigo.

Black Cohosh

BO: Cnicus benedictus L.Syn: holy thistleUses:•Tx for flatulence & indigestion•Use in liver disease & gallbladderComponents: Cnicin (bitter diterpenoid lactone)

Blessed Thistle

BO: Verbena hastata L.Syn: Simpler’s JoyUses:•Diaphoretic•Emmenagogue •Expectorant•Tonic•Tranquilizer Components: Verbanalin (glucoside)

Blue Vervain

BO: Eupatorium perfoliatumSyn: BonesetUses:•Diaphoretic•Laxative•Emetic (high doses)Components: Eupatorin (Triterpenic saponin)

Boneset

BO: Borago officinalis L.Syn: Common BorageUses:•Astringent•DemulcentComponents: tannins and mucilage, 2 pyrrolizidine alkaloids: lycopsamine ans supinidine viridiflorate (poisonous)

Borage

BO: Trinticum aestivum L.Syn: BranUses:•Tx of GI disorders•Constipation•Appendicitis•Hemorrhoids•Tx of ulcerative colitis & colnic diverticulosisComponents: 26.7% dietary fiber.

Bran

BO: Cytisus scoparius L. Syn: Scotch broomUses:•Cardiac remedy•Cathartic •Diuretic•Hallucinogen when smoked•Oxytocic effectComponents: 1.55 of sparteine, lesser quantities of cysteine and other alkaloids.*not safe for self-medication

Broom

BO: Arctium lappa L.Syn: LappaUses:•Diuretic •Diaphoretic•Childbirth aid•Tx of gout•Tx of rheumatism and syphilitic disorders•Stimulates hair growth•Tx of dandruff and psoriasis

Burdock

BO: Ruscus aculeatusSyn: Butcher’s-broom Box hollyUses:•Anti-inflammatory•Vasocontrictive•Phlebotherapeutic agent

• Marketed in 2 forms: Capsule (tx for circulatory disorders); Rectal Ointment (tx for hemorrhoids)

Components: Steroidal glycosides, aglycones (ruscogenin & neoruscogenin)

Butcher’s-Broom

BO: Acorus calamusSyn: Sweet flag or calamusUses:•Carminative•Stomachic•Soap & PerfumeComponents: 75% β – asarone

Calamus

PRODUCTS AVAILABLE IN THE PHILIPPINES

AlfalfaBIZZOE Premium Wheatgrass +Alfalfa Herbal Drink

Aloe6 IN 1 HAIR TREATS W/ ALOEVERA

ALOEVERA toothgel