Supplements are drugs that are found in nature (note: supplements don’t have to be any more “natural” in terms of how they are made than prescription drugs). Because they are found in nature they are not, in the United States, subject to review and approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Also, because they are found in nature, they tend to be safer than prescription drugs (although that is not necessarily always true). We believe in the value of supplements a great deal, but they are certainly not the right answer for everyone.
For those who are interested in the topic and are concerned about the fact that there are no regulations to ensure that these products are safe and that they contain the ingredients they claim to contain, we strongly recommend visiting this website:
ConsumerLab.com provides independent test results and information to help consumers and healthcare professionals evaluate health, wellness, and nutrition products. It publishes results of its tests online at www.consumerlab.com, including listings of brands that have passed testing. Products that pass CL’s testing are eligible to bear the CL Seal of Approval. CL addresses a growing need of consumers and healthcare professionals for better information to guide the selection of health, wellness, and nutrition products.
A recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association by Saper and colleagues highlights the concern about safety in Ayurvedic medicines. It found that 25% of Ayurvedic supplements purchased at random contained potentially toxic levels of heavy metals (such as lead, mercury, etcetera).
What we have tried to do is summarize the available information on the supplements that have the most importance for those with mood disorders. For an overview of supplements for MoodSurfing go here.
Also, for even more in depth information, in addition to subscribing to Consumer Lab, you might want to consider buying this book which we can highly recommend.