First lets define what are supplements as it relates to this article? Our definition for this article is a combination of herbs, vitamins, minerals or other natural compounds into one capsules or dosage. It must be noted that the problems of supplements as discussed in this article also occurs when doctors prescribe multiple prescriptions. Science of today has not caught up to the proliferation of new compounds. It has been said we have over 80,000 new chemical compounds invented since the 1940's. The traditional use of herbs has until recently had no scientific research. Now many laboratories are researching herbs but few or none are testing the combinations when put into supplements.

The main problem with supplements is that they are combinations of natural chemical compounds to treat selected ailments based on the three thousand history of their use. For example Europe, China, India, American Indians and South American cultures all have long histories of natural compounds (herbs) that they have used for medicine. The data used for these compounds comes from recorded and verbal application not science. That does not mean they may not be helpful it simply means it is history of application not scientific testing.

When these compounds are combined in a single product it is done from the history of each compound without scientific testing to evaluate what they do when combined. Even when compounds that have scientific testing are combined there seldom is testing for the combined product.

Many natural compounds when combined with other compounds counter the therapeutic actions of each other. Another problem is that some compounds when mixed with other compounds actually multiply the effects of the other compounds and even multiply the effects of prescription drugs. Two herbs Astragalus and Ashawganda have scientific research stating they magnify or multiply the actions of other drugs or compounds.

These conditions create a dangerous usually unrecognized condition.

For example my recent purchase of a product to treat fungus contained contained 25 compounds each with impressive proven history showing they all kill fungus. A closer look revealed that 5 of the compounds created opposite effects on the brain. This is a serious problem of supplements as they combine them for the proven properties to do a certain thing without research or study of what the combined chemicals to together. Supplement manufacturers may do some testing but not by chemistry but by evaluating a few peoples reactions to it. This ignores both the science and that each persons chemistry is different. This is typical of supplements whether they be vitamins or herbs. In this case the product caused opposing reactions on the brain and they either did not know it or disregarded it.

Supplement manufacturers are not the only ones who cause this problem. You or I who study herbs then combine them to treat an illness may cause counter reactions the same as the manufacturers. Naturopathic health care professionals are likewise at fault.

The reason we are all guilty and will remain so is simply because science has not yet caught up with traditional use of natural compounds. This is because the costs to do the scientific research is tremendously expensive. Fortunately medical research labs in the last ten years have addressed this issue. More and more labs are studying and testing the effects of individual herbs but not the combinations of herbs. Since is is so costly to study the combined supplements we and the manufacturers have very limited testing or data to support claims of the combined product. This is the danger of supplements; the show the historical or scientific reports of each compound as if it apples to the combined Supplement Just because a group of herbs have history and even research proving they fight cancer the combination of them is extremely dangerous. This is because there are thousands of types of cancers and what will kill one cancer will feed another. Thus if the manufacturer sells a product to treat all cancer its potential to create harm is very likely. This effect can be similar for other diseases such as the fungus example where each compound kills fungus but may harm other organs.

Too many manufacturers are combining compounds unscrupulously and making outlandish claims. Please use caution with all combinations of herbs even from this site. We attempt to provide scientific research on individual compounds but no one knows their chemical actions when combined.

Now before you get too concerned this is the same for pharmaceutical drugs. Often doctors, druggist and even manufacturers know what may occur with combinations of drugs. There is progress in this problem yet there are reports of many deaths and harm with combined drugs. The same applies to the combination of herbs and pharmaceutical drugs.

Science simply has not caught up with all of these problems.