Article updated and reviewed by Larry A. Weinrauch, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School on July 7, 2005.

Herbal supplements are made from natural plants and are used by some individuals to supplement traditional medical treatments. They are not considered drugs and are therefore not regulated by the Food and Drug Agency (FDA). This absence of regulation means that the effectiveness, quality, and quantity of the ingredients have not been independently verified.

It is likely...