Federal Grant to Study Botanicals in Dietary Supplements

The use of botanical ingredients in dietary supplements has reached a new benchmark of validity. The United States government has issued a grant to study the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies like St. John’s Wort and Echinacea.

The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Iowa State University a grant to research botanicals as a means of alternative medicine.

Researchers from prestigious institutions like Yale University will collaborate on the project.

Paul Coates, Ph.D. and director of ODS stated, “The work of…botanical research centers has proven to be important in advancing science in this area. We expect that this center at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa will continue to provide new insights into factors…of plants and botanicals used in dietary supplements.”

In addition to this dietary supplement center, there are six other centers sponsored by NIH that focus on the alternative healing effects of botanicals. The ISU center will emphasize anti-inflammatory and anti-viral compounds. Inflammation is not only a painful condition, but has also been recognized as a “common denominator” in heart disease.

Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D., acting director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) stated, "[g]iven that millions of Americans are using natural products, this research center will join several other NIH-funded botanical centers in conducting key research to determine whether and by what mechanisms botanicals may serve as effective treatments or preventive approaches.”

For more information visit, www.nccam.nih.gov.