University of Texas Launches Herbal Safety Web Site

University of Texas Launches Herbal Safety Web Site

EL PASO, TexasResearchers atthe University of Texas (UT) at El Paso/UT Austin Cooperative Pharmacy Program,launched a Web site to answer questions from consumers and medical professionalsregarding use of medicinal herbs. The Web site (www.herbalsafety.utep.edu)includes information in both English and Spanish, and is part of the pharmacyprograms Herbal Safety Initiative, which is funded by a $245,000 grant fromthe Paso del Norte Health Foundation.

UT researchers noted studies by the school have foundapproximately 70 percent of Hispanics living along the U.S.-Mexico border useherbal products. In addition, only about one-third of those people using suchproducts told their doctors about their use of herbal products.