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Precautions
To Take When Using
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Are Complementary and Alternative Therapies Safe?
Each treatment needs to be considered on its own. However, here are some
issues to think about when considering a complementary or alternative
(natural) therapy:
Many consumers believe that "natural" means
the same thing as "safe." This is not necessarily
true. For example, think of mushrooms that grow in the
wild: some are safe to eat, while others are poisonous.
“Natural” does not always equate with effectiveness
either. You may like to do your own research on what therapies
have been proven to be effective for particular illnesses,
or seek referrals from people who have had good results
from a particular type of treatment.
Individuals respond differently to treatments. How a person
might respond to an alternative therapy depends on many
things, including the person's state of health, how the
treatment is used, or the person's belief in the treatment.
For a natural health product that is sold over
the counter (without a prescription), such as a dietary
supplement, safety can also depend on a number of things:
• The components or ingredients that make up the product
• Where the components or ingredients come from
• The quality of the manufacturing process (for example, how well the manufacturer
is able to avoid contamination).
The training, skill, and experience of the practitioner
can also affect safety. However, in spite of careful and
skilled practice, all treatments--whether natural (complementary
or alternative) or conventional--can have risks.
Are There Any Risks to Using Complementary and
Alternative Therapies?
Yes, there can be risks, as with any medical therapy. These risks depend
upon the specific therapy. The following are general suggestions to help
you learn about or minimize the risks.
Discuss with your primary health care practitioner any
complementary or alternative treatment that you are considering
or are using; it is important for your safety and for a
comprehensive treatment plan. For example, herbal or botanical
products and other dietary supplements may interact with
medications (prescription or non-prescription). They may
also have negative, even dangerous, effects on their own.
For example, research has shown that the herb St. John's
wort, which is used by some people to treat depression,
may cause certain drugs to become less effective. And kava,
an herb that has been used for insomnia, stress, and anxiety,
has been linked to liver damage.
Self-medicate with caution, particularly during pregnancy
and nursing, or if you have any serious ailments such as
heart disease or blood pressure problems. Learn about the
potential dangers of some herbs and their interactions
with other medications. It is always best to check with
your health care provider before using over the counter
remedies, but if you do self-medicate, read the labels
of supplements carefully for contra-indications. Many health
stores which stock herbal and other remedies have trained
naturopaths on their staff - ask their advice. Take care
when using Chinese or homoeopathic “formulas” bought
over the counter. They may be very different from a formula
a trained practitioner would prescribe for you since these
are highly individualised treatments.
If you have more than one health care provider, let all
of them know about all therapies you are using (natural
and conventional). This will help each provider make sure
that all aspects of your health care work together.
Take charge of your health by being an informed consumer.
Find out what the scientific evidence is about any treatment's
safety and whether it works.
If you decide to use a natural therapy that would be given
by a practitioner, choose the practitioner carefully to
help minimize any possible risks (see How
to Choose a Practitioner).
References
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