Tag the word “natural” on something and it immediately conjures the thoughts “wholesome and safe.”  The truth is, there are a lot of things that occur naturally that are anything but safe; tobacco, for example.  Marijuana is natural.  Even cocaine is derived from a natural source as well as opium.  Obviously, we know that those “natural” substances are in fact harmful.  So, how do we determine whether or not a natural supplement is safe?

Read the fine print.  The FDA does not regulate natural supplements, per say, but they do require that the label indicates any potential side effects.  Most important of all, the FDA insists that no matter what the claim to fame is, the manufacturer must indicate that the FDA does not support the claim.

They don’t support the claim mainly because at this time, natural dietary supplements are not regulated.  There is no requirement that these supplements are tested; therefore, proven safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed by the FDA’s standards.  More importantly, the consumer needs to understand that the manufacturer, no matter what the hype, cannot completely back up their claims without quality clinical studies.

The actual ingredients in a natural supplement may sound wholesome indeed.  Most of them carry some explanation about how this supplement is found in some flower in a far off region and that

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