Among the supplements it recently has tested are ginseng, ginkgo biloba, and saw palmetto. Consumer Reports magazine also is expanding its botanical testing program. They also suggest that a lack of government regulation leaves consumers insufficiently protected against mislabeling and substandard manufacturing. Not surprisingly, consumer advocates applaud these efforts. Alternative medicine experts share Barrett's concerns.
Research shows that self-prescribing is up and physician office visits are down.
The self-care revolution is driving this trend, says John Renner, MD, president of the National Council for Reliable Health Information and a professor of family practice at the University of Missouri in Kansas City. They also have a way of allowing quality to rise to the top. Industry insiders agree. But it's distorting to say that there's a lack of government regulation. The 1994 law puts the burden on the FDA to prove that a particular supplement is unsafe and should be taken off the market.