Did you know that not all natural medicines are created equally? And it is not simply a case of something being safe to self-prescribe because it is “natural”. As a naturopath, when you visit me for a consultation I tailor your health program and/or prescription to suit your individual needs. I believe it is what sets our healthcare profession apart, ie, we acknowledge that not one size fits all.
I have been fortunate enough in my career in the natural therapies industry to have spent 12 years working with a leading Australian nutraceutical company. And this experience has assisted me in educating my patients on the quality of products I prescribe in clinic. What many patients don’t realize is that what I prescribe is specifically handpicked for their individual health care needs to ensure you not only receive the best quality but also most comprehensive therapeutic prescription.
You may have noticed that many vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements are now readily available at the pharmacy, health food store and even your supermarket, as well as all sorts of products being marketed online. But did you know that the quality and manufacturing of these retail brands can be quite different to those in the clinical practitioner ranges. Also of note is that in Australia natural medicines can be sold as either a food or medicine. Most clinical products are listed as a therapeutic good with the TGA which means much stricter rules on quality and therapeutic action. But do you know if what you are taking is classed as a food and how to tell the difference? This is certainly something I am happy to provide my patients guidance on.
A product might appear to have a long list of nutritional ingredients, but do you truly understand the forms. For example, a cheap way to supplement magnesium is as magnesium oxide. However this is not the best form to ingest and it can severely irritate your bowel. Additionally, different forms of magnesium are specific for different therapies. For example, magnesium orotate has been highly researched for cardiovascular health whereas magnesium citrate is an easily digested form of magnesium that is ideal for sensitive patients. As we speak there are literally 100s of clinical magnesium formulas available, simply because as I mentioned earlier “one size does not fit all” patients.
What you may also not know is that in manufacturing any of these products the process involves the addition of excipients (ie additions to the formula that assist with taste, dissolvability, shelf life etc). In Australia, it is not compulsory to list these additional ingredients, and this in itself can wreak havoc with your health. Some brands that have the tick of approval of being gluten free, vegetarian friendly and the like may not be as good as their labelling suggests. These products often have hidden nasties such as artificial sweeteners or foaming agents such as sodium lauryl sulphate. Obviously all things we need to steer clear of in prescribing the best quality product for your needs.
Many people are under the impression that something can be cheaper if purchased online or at a discount store but the cost to your health can be enormous. As cheaper may mean poor quality raw ingredients, a food product rather than a supplement, hidden excipients (additives and preservatives), or no cofactors ie the other nutrients required for optimal assimilation and therapeutic effect.
As your body changes and heals your nutritional needs will also change. Therefore you may not necessarily need to take your prescription long term. So in the long run you are always best to seek professional advice regarding anything you wish to take. Your health is a big investment and for that reason seeking the assistance of a qualified healthcare provider well versed in herbal/nutritional supplementation, herb/nutrient and drug interactions and emerging research is the wisest choice for both you and your loved ones.