Herbal products and nutritional supplements are substances that are claimed to be safe, gentle and natural alternatives to regulated medicines. Some of these products have been shown to have benefit; some have not shown any positive effects; some are toxic in certain doses; and some may interact with other substances in potentially harmful ways.

Herbal products and nutritional supplements are not tested by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This government agency is responsible for testing the purity, safety and effectiveness of medications. In the case of nutritional supplements, the FDA may only intervene if there is evidence of toxic effects. Prescription drugs, on the other hand, are not allowed on the market until they are proven safe and effective. Testing also continues even after approval is given.

This website provides information on some of the commonly used nutritional supplements, based on information available today. Information is provided about what the substance is supposed to do; how it is supposed to work; any toxic effects and whether or not it has been proven to work.

If you are going to use any supplement, please follow the manufacturer’s recommendations, consult your physician and if you have concerns about safety of the product, please contact the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Certain sections of this website deal with health and medical related issues.  This website is not intended to create any physician-patient relationship or supplant any in-person medical consultation or examination or consultation with a licensed nutritionist.  Always seek the advice of a trained health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before seeking any treatment.  Proper medical attention should always be sought for specific ailments, which may be related to poor nutrition.  Never disregard professional medical or nutritional advice or delay in seeking medical treatment due to information obtained on this website.  Any information received from this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure.  The information on this website is not intended to replace proper medical care.  All contents on this web site are without warranty of any kind and do not imply endorsement or recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics or any individual contributor to this website.  The American Academy of Pediatrics assumes no responsibility or liability for any information, links, products or services available from this web site or your reliance upon it and is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party web sites to which we may link.  This site is for information purposes only.  The nutritional guidelines and information on this website may not be current and are always subject to revision.  Before following them, please consult with a health professional, including a physician or other individual qualified and licensed to offer advice regarding proper nutrition.