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WHO Issues Guidelines for Herbal MedicinesTue Feb 10,10:40 AM ET Add Health - Reuters to My GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization on Tuesday issuedguidelines for ensuring the safety and efficacy of the multi-billion dollarherbal medicines market amid reports that some products are tainted withtoxic substances.The guidelines, intended for national regulatory bodies, lay out the besttechniques for growing and harvesting medicinal plants used for variousailments or weight loss, as well as the clear labeling of the contents ofany product.Herbal medicines represent an estimated $60 billion a year global market,some 20 percent of the overall drug market, according to the U.N. agency.Yet only China, Japan and the European Union have regulations for medicinalplants."It is not a binding guideline for any country, but it is a model or sort ofchecklist which they can use to make their own national regulations," HansHogerzeil, acting director of WHO's essential drugs and medicinesdepartment, told a news briefing.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration last December issued a consumer alerton the safety of dietary supplements containing ephedra, also called Mahuang, a natural substance.The adrenaline-like stimulant, used for weight loss or to boost sportsperformance, can have dangerous effects on the heart.In Africa, up to 80 percent of the population depends on traditionalmedicine for primary health care. In China, herbal preparations account forup to 50 percent of total consumption.In Europe, North America and other industrialized areas, more than 50percent report using complementary or alternative medicine at least once,according to WHO."There is also an enormous industry now where huge amounts of leaves andtraditional medicines are being shipped from various exporting countries --China, India, Pakistan -- to many other countries. Somebody has to regulatethat, at least their safety," Hogerzeil said.

 

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