Is “Natural” always “Safe?”

As a naturopathic physician, I have had many opportunities to interact with individuals who believe that all natural substances are safe. Unfortunately, this perception is simply not true. In fact, some of the most toxic drugs used today are derived from natural sources. Examples include a form of the toxin that causes botulism, commonly used in Botox injections; and a component of the foxglove plant used in the drug, Digitalis.

While many herbal and nutritional preparations found on store shelves are indeed safe to use, it’s important to understand that problems might arise if these products are combined with prescription drugs. These issues can range anywhere from a mild side effect, to a dangerous drug-herb-nutrient interaction that could produce a lethal outcome.

For example, I once met with an elderly gentleman, “Joseph,” who had recently begun taking Gingko to improve his memory. Ginkgo is a well-researched herb that is commonly used to improve blood circulation, memory, and other health conditions. In general, Ginko has few side effects when taken alone. However, it’s use is ill-advised in many conditions where other medications are prescribed.

During Joseph’s appointment with me, I learned that he was also taking 3 different prescription medications, one of which was a drug called Coumadin. I immediately became concerned. You see, Gingko and Coumadin are both used to prevent blood clotting and should not be taken together. This combination, in high doses, can lead to uncontrolled bleeding anywhere in the body, including the brain. Apparently, this supplement was suggested to him by a well-meaning employee of a local health food store. However, without having adequate knowledge of Joseph’s preexisting medical history, the employee’s advice could have been extremely detrimental to Joseph’s health. Another natural product contraindicated in Joseph’s case would be high doses of vitamin E, as vitamin E also inhibits blood clotting.

On a separate occasion, “Kathy,” a patient in her mid-thirties, came to my office complaining of recent headaches. An examination revealed that she had high blood pressure. At the time, she was under a lot of stress and read that licorice pills might help relieve that stress. What Kathy didn’t realize was that in some people, licorice can cause a rise in blood pressure. Unfortunately, she was one of the few to respond in this manner. Luckily, her blood pressure returned to normal after discontinuing the licorice pills.

These illustrations are not meant to scare you, but rather to inform you that there are potentially serious drug-herb-nutrient interactions that might occur. For this reason it is important that you contact a physician or practitioner who is specifically trained in the use of both pharmaceutical and natural therapies before taking any herbal or nutritional supplement. Reading information in popular books simply will not suffice. While most of the information is accurate, it is important to realize that by the time a book ends up on a bookstore shelf, some of the information might be two years old.

Historically, cultures around the world have used herbs as “medicine” with great success. However, natural substances, while safe and effective when taken in proper doses, might cause harm if taken without the supervision of a licensed physician trained in the use of natural treatments. So, before purchasing any herb or supplement, please take a moment to determine whether you have an underlying medical condition that might preclude your use of natural substances.

Dr. Lesa Werner, is a licensed Naturopathic Physician currently practicing in West Hartford, CT www.drlesawerner.com

Disclaimer: The above information is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose nor treat any medical condition. Please contact your physician for appropriate medical care.