(3/30/99)

Many Utahns pop popular herbal remedies in hopes of better health or cures for illnesses. A number of Utah companies are at the heart of the pumping business. But there are new concerns about the safety of supplements. News Specialist Jed Boal has more.

Walk into just about any supermarket today and there they are.. herbal remedies. The debate over whether they help is nothing new. But, some scientists suspect they are not as safe as they seem.

Expect to see plenty of studies on herbal remedies in the months and years to come. The multi-billion dollar business is booming, and as much as 70-percent of the herbs are manufactured in Utah.

A new study suggest three of the most popular herbs...St. John's Wort, Echanacia aand Ginko could cause infertility or genetically damage sperm.

It was only test tube research, but a BYU pharmacologist has other serious concerns.

Dr. Bruce Woolley says, "By being active, we're learning about all kinds of reactions."

But a Biochemist at Weider, a major manufacturer of supplements in the Salt Lake area isn't worried about the study. Dr. Luke Bucci says, "They're test tube studies, so the high concentrations in the test are not the doses. In smaller concentrations they found nothing, which is right."

Both Doctors agree, consumers need to be careful about mixing herbs with medication. "I think there's a potential to use them in appropriateley. We're just learning about them."

Both Doctors we spoke with, suggest you talk with your doctor is you have questions about any specific supplements. If you're into self-medication...get some education on what it is you've prescribed yourself.

News Story From CNN Interactive

Go to special report on Herbal Poisoning, from May 1998.