Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

***I have been using this product for over a year with good results but have recently learned on Consumerlab.com that 1.6mcg's of lead per serving has been found in a sample they tested. Though they say this is a relatively low level they are recommending against people using this product. I have emailed Natures Way to see what they recommend since I still have two unopened bottles at home. I will update after I receive a response.*** ---10/26/2013--- Here is the response I received: Thank you for contacting us with your question about Nature's Way® Valerian Root. This herb promotes relaxation and helps support restful sleep. It's great to hear you are taking an active part in maintaining a healthy lifestyle! I understand that you would like to know more about the recent test of our product by Consumer Lab. I am happy to help you in whatever way I can. Recently, a product review by Consumer Lab found that Nature's Way Valerian had minute naturally occurring lead levels measuring at 0.53 micrograms (mcg)/capsule. While Nature's Way makes every attempt to procure botanical raw materials with the lowest heavy metal content, it is simply not possible to grow and harvest a plant product that is lead-free, as lead is a prevalent element in the earth's soil. The US Food & Drug Administration recognizes the prevalence of heavy metals such as lead in the food supply and has set standards of tolerable lead intake known as the Provisional Total Tolerable Intake level (PTTI) for specific populations and age groups. The following chart represents the Provisional Total Tolerable Intake level (PTTI) for lead as determined by the FDA: Population & Age Provisional Total Tolerable Intake level (PTTI) Children under age 6 years 6 mcg/day Children age 7 years and up 15 mcg/day Pregnant Women 25 mcg/day Other Adults 75 mcg/day The World Health Organization (WHO), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health, also has criteria for lead ingestion. According to the WHO's safety data on lead, the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) for ingestion of lead from all sources is 25 mcg per kilogram (2.2 pounds) of body weight. For example, the PTWI safe weekly intake of lead for a 150 pound person is 1704 mcg of lead per week or 243 mcg of lead per day. The lead content of Nature's Way Valerian tested by Consumer Lab was 1.60 mcg/ daily serving (3 capsules) which is well below the FDA Provisional Total Tolerable Intake level (PTTI) and the WHO Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) for lead across all population and age groups. It is important to note that Nature's Way Valerian was one of the few products tested by Consumer Lab that was made solely from root powder, as opposed to root extract. Nature's Way offers its valerian root powder product as some experts postulate that botanical powders contain all the constituents of the plant found in nature and, therefore, may contain a broader spectrum of key botanical components. In addition to containing all the key active components found in nature, botanical powders, such as valerian root powder, contain lead at a level found in nature. In comparison, the solvent extraction process utilized to produce botanical extracts generally reduces heavy metals, while concentrating other compounds. Nature's Way is committed to quality and safety and has a robust quality assurance program. Each batch of raw material is subjected to identity, potency, microbiological, heavy metals, and purity tests. Specifically, the lead analysis performed on each batch is done utilizing inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) which is a highly sensitive method capable of detecting a range of heavy metals, including lead, at concentrations below one part in 1012 (part per trillion). For over forty years, Nature's Way has been America's leader in herbal medicine and will continue to work with its raw material vendors to source raw materials, including valerian, with the lowest heavy metal content possible. This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I hope this information is helpful for you. Feel free to email or call me again with any other questions or concerns that you may have. Please visit our website, [...] for more valuable information on this and all other Nature's Ways products. In good health, Kristina Nelson Product Information Specialist Nature's Way Brands 1-800-962-8873 ***I suppose the level is low enough to not be much of a safety concern but if lead is so potentially common in produce, who knows how much one is actually ingesting over the course of a typical day. Maybe I'm paranoid but I tend to agree with Consumer Lab's suggestion that people shouldn't knowingly expose themselves to any level of lead.***