"I saw an ad in the paper that said, 'CURE YOUR ARTHRITIS WITHOUT DRUGS WITH THIS ALL-NATURAL, GOVERNMENT-APPROVED REMEDY.' The idea of a 'natural' remedy appeals to me and I'm impressed that the ad says the product is 'approved' by a government agency. But I think these so-called cures sometimes promise more than they can deliver. How can I get more information about products like this?"
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Health Information Center can help you get in touch with public and private groups that have information about traditional and alternative therapies for arthritis and other conditions. Your public library also may have a computer link to provide you with direct access to the National Health Information Center.
To check on whether a product is "government approved," to learn more about an over-the-counter drug, prescription drug, cosmetic, or medical device, or to report an adverse reaction to any of these products, call the Food and Drug Administration's Consumer Affairs Information Line. For the latest information on vitamins and nutritional supplements, call the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.