A Natural Presence in the Square

Harvard students don't have to go far to get their herbal fix. Last July, The Vitamin Shoppe opened in Harvard Square, joining the ranks of Hartnett's and Colonial Drug, both located on Brattle Street.

Vitamins and herbal remedies are now available at many general pharmacies, such as CVS, and specified health food/natural care stores are popping up everywhere.

Trader Joe's on Memorial Drive and Bread and Circus Whole Foods Market in Central Square are two local stores dedicated to natural substances and foods. Natural junkies can purchase vitamins and meal supplements, as well as natural hair and body care products, essential oils and bath salts.

Hartnett's employee Kristen N. Danischewski believes that the herbal therapy trend is especially popular among college students.

Although the store has yet to see a big rise in sales of nutritional supplements, sales of body care and aromatherapeutic products have sky-rocketed in recent years, according to Michael D. Strohl, an employee at Bread and Circus.

"People are really beginning to look at natural products," Strohl said. "People are moving away from synthetic products, they want something they can feel comfortable with."

Even without conclusive scientific evidence or federal endorsement, the herbal therapy market has done pretty well for itself. In 1997, consumers spent $12 billion on natural supplements, nearly double the amount spent in 1994, according to Time. Sales continue to grow more than 10 percent a year.

The appeal of herbal products has spread to the general population, according to Strohl.

"Natural herbs are now appearing in mainstream products and mainstream stores," Strohl says.

After working with the natural industry, Strohl says the popularity in the last few years is perhaps more of a trend than a general interest in herbal therapy.

"The natural health industry is built on a lot of hype," Strohl says. "While I do believe that many benefits that can be received from herbal therapy, some people want to make the savvy choice."

Herbal Hoax?

In truth, many herbal remedies haven't been proven to work, and often gain popularity by word of mouth.

And because they have not been thoroughly studied, the long-term effects of these substances are not yet known.

A study conducted in Germany by Dieter Melchart and Klaus Linke found that excessive herbal remedies caused strain on the liver and may have caused liver failure in patients.

Much more research is being done on these therapies in Europe, while conventional doctors in the United States continue to prescribe penicillin--a drug with definite scientific results.