Here’s another incredible, related story: The ‘Supplement’ Illusion.
Products labeled "ginseng," "echinacea," and "ginkgo biloba" often contain no trace of these substances, according to an investigation announced today.
An excerpt:
- Ginkgo biloba: Contained no ginkgo biloba. Did contain rice, mustard, wheat, and radish.
- St. John’s wort: Contained no St. John’s wort. Did contain garlic, rice, and “a tropical root crop.”
- Ginseng: Contained no ginseng. Did contain wheat, rice, and citrus species.
- Garlic: One of 15 tests was positive for a small amount of garlic. Most of the genetic material, though, was from rice, palm, and wheat.
- Echinacea: Contained no echinacea, and no genetic material of any sort.
- Saw palmetto: Contained no saw palmetto.