Mayo Clinic Health Letter Tip of the Month - March 27, 2002

Wednesday, March 27, 2002

Labels for Herbal Supplements Don't Tell Whole Story

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.- Think you know all about the herbal supplements you take? Maybe not, according to the March issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Although 60 million Americans use over-the-counter herbal supplements, information on effectiveness and proper use is often vague, misleading and conflicting.

Here are some facts about common herbal supplements that you won't find on the product labels:

Ginkgo: Studies show that ginkgo can provide a modest improvement in memory. But, because herbal supplements aren't regulated, it's difficult for consumers to know if they are getting dosages and product quality similar to those proven effective.

Echinacea: There's no evidence that echinacea will prevent or cure a cold, but it might shorten the duration of or lessen severity of cold symptoms. There's concern that echinacea can become toxic to the liver if used for more than eight consecutive weeks.

Ginseng: There's no proof for claims that ginseng increases athletic or sexual stamina or reduces the effects of aging. Studies have shown that it may have a positive effect on the immune system and may aid slightly in the body's ability to cope with stress. However, it can also cause hypertension, insomnia, increased heart rates, and in excessive amounts ginseng addiction

Ephedra (ma-huang): Ephedra, a heart stimulant, is marketed as a safe way to lose weight. Any small benefit it offers on weight loss is outweighed by many health risks including headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia, heart attack, seizures, psychosis and stroke. It's even riskier if you have one of many health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, hypertension or seizure disorder.

Myths and Facts About Hysterectomy

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the womb (uterus) and its neck (cervix), remains the most effective treatment for gynecological cancers and some other gynecological conditions.

Stories about hysterectomies, passed on from one generation to the next, aren't always accurate. Here are a few hysterectomy myth-busters from the March issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Myth: Hysterectomy causes depression. Fact: There's no research to support this.

Myth: Sex isn't enjoyable after a hysterectomy. Fact: Most women report that sexual desire and the ability to have an orgasm are unchanged after a hysterectomy.

Myth: Hysterectomy always causes early menopause. Fact: A hysterectomy that removes the uterus and cervix, but not the ovaries, usually doesn't cause menopause. Ovaries aren't removed in all hysterectomies.

Osteoporosis: Not for Women Only

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz - Almost 30 percent of all hip fractures occur in men, according to a new study recapped in the March issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

Hip fractures often occur because of osteoporosis. Long known as a problem affecting women past menopause, osteoporosis is emerging as a problem in older men, too. Fewer men than women break a hip, but there's a steep increase in the number of fractures in men after age 75.

Strategies to reduce the risk of osteoporosis for both men and women include doing weight-bearing exercises and taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.

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Mayo Clinic is a private group practice of medicine dedicated to providing diagnosis and treatment of patient illnesses through a systematic focus on individual patient needs. Mayo Clinic Scottsdale offers outpatient healthcare in 66 medical and surgical specialties and programs. Mayo Clinic also provides care at primary care practices located throughout the Valley and at the new Mayo Clinic Hospital. The hospital is located at 56th Street and Mayo Boulevard (north of Bell Road) in northeast Phoenix, and provides inpatient care to support the medical and surgical specialties of the Clinic

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