Government app dishes on herbs

Wondering if the echinacea you’ve been taking is doing anything to help you fight colds? Or if ginkgo biloba really does improve brain function?

Well, now the federal government has an app for that. The National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has launched HerbList — an app for research-based information about the safety and effectiveness of herbal products. Developed by NCCIH and launched through the National Library of Medicine’s app pages, HerbList is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The new app helps consumers and others quickly learn about the science behind popular herbs and herbal supplements including kava, acai, ginkgo, turmeric, and more than 50 others.

Users can access information on potential safety problems, side effects, and herbdrug interactions with additional links to resources for more information. They can also mark favorite herbs.

“Providing an app for users is part of NCCIH’s effort to inform consumers and health care providers within the complementary and integrative health space,” David Shurtleff, acting director of NCCIH, said in a news release. “People are considering herbs and herbal supplements for various reasons, and it is important that they are aware of what the research says about safety and effectiveness.”

The app was built using NCCIH’s Herbs at a Glance webpage, a series of brief fact sheets that provide basic information about specific herbs or botanicals — common names, what the science says, potential side effects and cautions, and resources for information.