Cancer and Herbs

Abstract

Bestselling books perpetuate the myth that natural products such as herbs and other “dietary supplements” tend to be safer than conventional medicines.¹ Once relegated to health food stores, these products now fill pharmacy and supermarket shelves. So-called natural substances are more popular than ever. Fueled by congressional passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994,² which deregulated the industry by limiting the role of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the popularity of dietary supplements has created a $15-billion-a-year industry.In this issue of the Journal, Nortier et al. present evidence of an association between the use . . .