In 1994, Congress decided to define "dietary supplements" as a food that contains a dietary ingredient such as a vitamin or herb. However, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) does not consider these supplements medicine, nor do they support the notion that these alternative drugs can cure or treat any illness.
History
Herbs have been used for medicinal purposes throughout the ages. According to HerbGardeningGuru.com, Hippocrates listed more than 400 different herbs for an array of purposes in the fifth century B.C. Vitamins are organic compounds essential in small doses for a healthy existence. They were first discovered in foods by the Egyptians who cured problems such as night blindness and scurvy with foods rich in vitamin A and vitamin C. WordQuery.com says the Polish biochemist Casimir Funk in 1912 thought that vitamins were made of amino acids. The term vitamin was created from the Latin word "vita" for life and "amine" for amino acids.
Types
Vitamins are either fat soluble or water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K. Colorado University explains in their "quick facts" section on fat soluble vitamins that the body does not need to replenish these vitamins on a daily basis. In fact, large doses of fat soluble vitamins can be toxic to the body. Water soluble vitamins are the B vitamins and vitamin C. They cannot be stored in the body and must be replenished on a daily basis. The GardenersNet.com lists four main categorizes of herbs: aromatic herbs, culinary herbs, medicinal herbs and ornamental herbs.
Popular Herbal Supplements
Some of the most common herbal supplements include garlic, echinacea and ginseng, says the University of Chicago Medical Center. Garlic, extremely common in supplementation and cooking, is known to aid in heart health and work as a natural antibiotic. Echinacea strengthens the immune system while ginseng sharpens memory and boosts energy. These are common herbs taken by a variety of different individuals. Other popular herbs need to be taken with extreme care and with the guidance of an herbal expert. St. John's wort is an extremely popular alternative medicine for depression. Black cohosh, another popular herb, claims to relieve symptoms of menopause in some women. These are two examples of herbs that are more potent and not for everyone.
Popular Vitamin Supplements
The most popular vitamin supplements are vitamins C, D, E and B12. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant that protects the body from pollutants. It is used the most during cold and flu season to strengthen the immune system. Vitamin D has become increasingly marketable because of its assistance with calcium absorption. The Office of Dietary Supplements says vitamin D helps prevent osteoporosis in older people. Vitamin B12 is a popular supplement among vegans and vegetarians because it can only be obtained through meat products. Vitamin B12 converts food into energy and is needed to maintain healthy cells.
Warning
In ABC's Good Morning America article, "Some Vitamins Can Do More Harm Than Good," it points out that some vitamins taken in large doses can hurt the body. Vitamin E, taken to prevent heart disease and certain cancers, can actually increase these risks when taken in doses over 400 IUs. Vitamin A in large quantities can cause birth defects, and new research suggests that vitamin C can interfere with some cancer treatments. Herbal supplements come with a variety of individual warnings that should not be ignored. Those especially vulnerable to herbal side effects are women who are nursing or pregnant and anyone who suffers from epilepsy.
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