MaQueens eyes and ears only

April 2015

Running head: ARTICLE REVIEW - SUPPLEMENTS 1

Concerning the article, which examines the athletes and the use of herbal supplements, the editor of the article is describing the issue in detail. The article is talking about the reasons for the rise in use of herbal supplement by the athletes especially in America. The article further gives that it is necessary for an athlete to understand that the word natural does not specifically mean safe as shown under; Muth, (2015). It also gives the fact the athletes fails to trust their medical personnel and entrust their coaches who happen to have little know how concerning the herbal supplement. The article furthermore gives the side effects of the herbal supplement use and several researches concerning the issue. Research on the effects and detail information concerning different herbal supplement and the side effects towards the users showed a different result to that in mind from the athletes. For instance the article claims that the toxicity often reported from the athletes results from the use of herbal supplements of which the information concerning the herbs are poor and the side effects are not well known as there is no adequate scientific research has been undertaken. This clearly puts the athletes at a great risk.

Herbal supplements appeal to the sports community or accepted by the athletes because of their ability to improve performance in athletics during athletics and reduce side effects for instance pain during practice. Furthermore others claim that they boost athletes health especially regards to performance. It is fact that the use of herbal supplement is not currently regulated and this greatly puts the athletes to a great danger especially at this situation where there is little research details about different herbal supplements and at this situation where there is different types of some of herbal supplements like ginseng. Though there are few herbal supplements approved still the use and dosage of each herbal is guided under European guidelines, which they always seem to vary, from one country to the next. The reason why most are not regulated is because the use is often dependent on the historical information about the use of each herbal supplement as shown under; France, (2011). It is assumed that if the historical use of a certain herbal supplement has been safe then it is fit for use. This is not always true as many herbal supplements have different types, which have different side effects upon their use. Therefore there is necessary for more detailed research to be undertaken and sponsored under world health organization so that the athletes can be informed fully of the side effects and help to regulate the random use of herbal supplements in sports community.

According to other sources it is true that the use of herbal supplements is not safe the same way the article states for instance several errors have been highlighted concerning the famous Chinese ginseng use in sports which is the similar case discussed in the article. Other sources for instance; Landry, & Bernhardt,(2003). It explains that athletes blindly trust the contents given on the packages while they don’t take time to fully analyze the relevance of different herbal supplements they use.

Therefore I consider that the information given on the article is true. Basing on this, there is little knowledge concerning herbal medicine. Often most people take risks by just believing it suites their ailment. This case applies here on the herbal supplements where athletes believe on just mere theory or the information they get from colleagues of which it is not always true. Proper research has to be taken to correct this situation.

References.

France, R. C. (2011). Introduction to sports medicine and athletic training. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Greenwood, M., Kalman, D., & Antonio, J. (2008). Nutritional supplements in sports and exercise. Totowa, N.J: Humana.

Landry, G. L., & Bernhardt, D. T. (2003). Essentials of primary care sports medicine. Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics.

Muth, N. D. (2015). Sports nutrition for health professionals.