Online Articles Create username. The stories are rare, but no less frightening. While experts are quick to point out that the adverse effects of herbal medicines are no more frequent or severe than those of prescription drugs, they are more likely to make news, since the lack of government oversight places more responsibility on the consumer. Although an estimated half of all Americans use herbal products regularly, only a third of these will openly admit their use to physicians or therapists, according to a 1997 study by David Eisenberg, MD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Medical professionals feel that's a dangerous ratio.
But because so few do so, whether due to embarrassment or a belief that doctors won't approve, it's up to medical professionals to ask. According to HealthWorld Online, the past six years have seen a dramatic increase in funding for clinical research on herbs in the United States. Government sponsorship of clinical research on complementary therapies has also been on the rise, HealthWorld Online said. Total sales for herbs rose 55.4 percent from calendar years 1997 to 1998, according to Dr. Russo. Clearly, herbal medicines are on the rise in this country.