The problem is, however, that herbal supplements are not subjected to the degree of testing required of prescription drugs and even of common over-the-counter medications. Furthermore, the FDA is in no way obligated to require any type of testing for herbal supplements before they are sold to the public. For this reason alone, it is advisable to proceed with caution before beginning any regimen involving herbal supplements.

As an example, consider one of, if not, the most popular herbal supplement of all, the aforementioned Echinacea. This herb, also known as Purple Coneflower, is a member of the daisy family and grows wild across much of North America. It is reported to have been used by the Native Americans to help heal wounds, and it was used throughout the nineteenth century by physicians to treat infections and inflammations.

Later, such treatments were replaced by antibiotics and Echinacea's popularity within the medical community waned, but today the product is still alive and well in the herbal supplement market, constituting over 300 million dollars per year in sales in the United States alone. Echinacea has been shown to be effective in boosting the body's immune system by increasing Echinacea has been shown to be effective in boosting the body's immune system by increasing the white blood cell count, thus making the body more resilient to infections. Echinacea is also sometimes used as an additive to topical preparations used to treat eczema and psoriasis. Typically, however, Echinacea is taken orally in liquid form.

In spite of its apparent benefits, the "Purple Coneflower" may have some hidden risks. AIDS patients, and cancer patients, ironically those with compromised immune systems, who would seem to benefit most from Echinacea, should proceed with caution. The alternative medical community gives Echinacea mixed reviews with some researchers believing that Echinacea may actually cause some cancers, as well as AIDS, to progress more rapidly.