|
The issue is that the final product can vary according to the growing conditions of the herb, the plant parts that are used, time and method of harvest, extraction and other manufacturing processes, and storage. Consumers need to be confident that products sold in Australian pharmacies, supermarkets and healthfood stores are equivalent to the effective products reported on in medical studies. Any substantial claims on the labels should ideally be backed up with good-quality scientific evidence based on clinical trials showing the product's effectiveness.CHOICE Online invited the sponsors of 27 products to disclose their evidence. Evidence was received for 14 products, five companies refused to take part and eight didn't respond. This lack of transparency from some companies would be unacceptable in conventional medicine. There are inherent difficulties testing the contents of St John's wort products, so CHOICE Online couldn't test whether the 27 products contain what their labels say they do. Given this situation, the lack of willingness shown by some manufacturers to provide evidence for their products' effectiveness is of concern to consumers. Currently you'd be mistaken if you thought you could buy any formulation of St John's wort at random, be assured that it works, and that the company has clear evidence that it works, and therefore you can't be certain you're not wasting your money. The only conclusion CHOICE Online could draw about any product's potential effectiveness is that the evidence presented for the claims made by six brands is comprehensive.
See the full CHOICE report.
Go to choice.com.au for more expert, unbiased advice on appliances, electronics, food and finances. Buy smarter, go to choice.com.au first.
|
