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Natural products are all around us. We see an aisle full of them when we go to the pharmacy, see news reports and commercials on television, and hear about their "wonders" from friends and internet advertisements. However, the information obtained about natural products is not always accurate and these products may not be the miracle drugs they at first seem to be. There are a few things to keep in mind before starting on a natural product. First of all, it is important to know that natural products are not regulated by the FDA as are other prescription and over-the-counter medications. This means there is no organization to ensure the effectiveness, safety, and quality of natural products. Knowing this, there are a few key questions to ask before taking a natural product:
Does it work?
Is it safe?
Does it interact with my other medications?
Does it work?
Since there is no organization to oversee natural products, it is not required for there to be studies that prove the efficacy of the product before it is put on the shelf. Because of this, there is very little information about many products and whether they actually work. Also, several products come in various formulations. Some formulations are less effective than others or not effective at all. An example of this is glucosamine, which is used for ar
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thritis. Glucosamine sulfate has shown to be beneficial for the treatment of osteoarthritis while glucosamine hydrochloride (HCl) appears to be ineffective.
Is it safe?
Just because these products come from natural sources does not mean that they are safe. In fact, many can have harmful side effects. Kava, for example, is a product that is sometimes used to treat anxiety or to help one sleep. But its side effects may include a scaly skin rash, disturbances in vision, and possibly even liver damage. As with product efficacy, there are limited studies that test the safety of natural products.
Does it interact with my other medications?
There are numerous interactions between natural products and other medications. Coumadin® (warfarin) is a prescription medication that thins the blood and is an example of a medication that interacts with several natural products. Some notable interactions with warfarin include the "4 G's": garlic, ginger, ginkgo, and ginseng. These are four commonly used natural products that may cause the blood to be too thin if taken with warfarin.
So now that you know some important things to be considered, how do you know if a natural product is right for you? Your pharmacist can provide you with information about natural prod
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