Selecting Herbal Supplements

By Stephanie Bloyd

Before adding a dietary supplement to your health routine, research the ingredients or speak to your doctor to avoid possible drug/herb interactions and complications. For example, St. John's wort, a popular treatment for depression, can negate the effectiveness of oral contraceptives as well as protease inhibitors used to treat HIV. Here are several online resources to get you started. Also read What You Should Know About Drugs vs. Herbs.

Herbs for Health magazine

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

American Botanical Council

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine