Consumer Reports has introduced a new natural medicine database containing information on herbs, dietary supplements and other natural medicines. The database orginally unveiled in May, contains information on the safety, effectiveness and possible harmful interactions of nearly 14,000 supplements and is the product of the Therapeutic Research Center which analyzes prescription and OTC drugs. Like the Consumer Reports magazine, the database does not accept advertising and it does not receive any funding from pharmaceutical companies.

It is worth noting that the IndyStar.com article on the natural medicines database is kind of confusing. The article mentions that the database is "officially known as the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database," and is available for a $19 annual fee (pretty darn cheap). The article further mentions that subscribing users can also access Consumer Reports' guides to prescription drugs and medical treatments. To me this implies that it is a completely distinct database and a user can go to Google type in Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database and with their $19 annual subscription fee access it along with the Consumer Reports' guides to prescription drugs and medical treatments. However, that is not the case. The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database is a seperate database from Consumer Reports and costs $92.00/year. In reality, it appears that a version (or the whole thing, I can't tell exactly) of the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database's information has been integrated into Consumer Reports MedicalGuide.org which features a section called Natural Medicine Ratings (which has a nice little "new" icon next to it on MedicalGuide.org's main page). Natural Medicine Ratings is available through the $19/year subscription to Consumer Reports MedicalGuide.org.

Despite that confusion (brought on by the IndyStar.com article, not Consumer Reports nor Therapeutic Research Center), the Natural Medicine Ratings looks to be a nice addition to the Consumer Reports MedicalGuide.org for consumers interested in taking an active interest in their medicines and herbal supplements. Consumers are able to find information on effectiveness/ineffectiveness, common names, descriptions, ingredients, pharmacodynamics (how it works), saftey, and interactions advice.

Other places consumers can find free information herbs and over the counter medications are:
The Office of Dietary Supplements http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine http://www.nccam.nih.gov
MedlinePlus http://www.medlineplus.gov