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| mission's reports are accepted by scientists everywhere as proof of a plant's safety and effectiveness, except at the FDA. |
| Some confusion in the U.S. stems from the FDA's "GRAS" or "Generally Recognized as Safe" list, which contains about 200 herbs commonly used as extracts, flavorings, oils and seasonings. An additional 200 herbs in common use do not appear on the list, such as burdock, flaxseed, gotu kola and skullcap, all of which are recommended for heart patients in this book. Such herbs are not necessarily unsafe; they are simply unlisted. |
| The Herb Research Foundation, which gathers scientific data pertaining to herb safety from sources around the world, publishes reports on the scientific research of individual plants and on the use of herbs for specific conditions, such as herbs for the heart. If you're concerned about the safety or scientific testing of any medicinal herb or if you'd like information about herbs used to treat specific conditions, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Herb Research Foundation (see Appendix) requesting information. |
| Common sense and education are your best guides to herb use. Don't use an herb without learning about it first. Mislabeled herbs are rare, but a company that grows its own herbs and tests what it buys ensures product safety. The safest herbs may be those you grow yourself using organic methods or those you purchase from a reputable organic source. Unfortunately, nearly all herbs imported into the United States are fumigated, a consideration for anyone using herbs medicinally. No discussion of herb safety would be complete without a mention of this concern. |
| If you develop adverse symptoms after taking any |
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