Supplements and Drugs: A Hazardous Combination
Article by Rimes James
Eventually, when these things accumulate more than what the body can accommodate, it can crush the bodys ability to naturally detoxify. In time, this will lead to nutritional deficiency, hormonal imbalance, and disorganized metabolism.
Although primarily on acute exposure, an interesting chapter by W. Stopford, tells of a young man who was treated by daily 20-minute saunas for three years and recovered from a nearly fatal acute Hg poisoning.
Were you concentrating so hard on the negative that it happened as you expected? 2. Are you looking at life through your present limitations? To rise in consciousness the level which you desire you must completely drop or let go of the consciousness with which you are identifying. Technology. We live in a grand time of technological development. Computers, the Internet, cell phones, digital cameras and DVDs. But the human body has not ‘kept up’ with technology.
Addiction is a traitor it sneaks up on you. People who are addicted often do not recognize that they have a problem, they think that the problem is with everyone. Addiction is different from abuse, a person can abuse drugs and not be addicted.
Supplements and Drugs: A Hazardous Combination
As I have become more involved in using functional nutritional therapy in my practice, I have come to realize that many people are still confused about the safety and effectiveness of various dietary supplements. Because these products are pnaturalq, many feel they are always safe to use. Although supplements and herbs can be safer than pharmaceutical drugs, they can still function as drugs in the body and should be used with caution and respect. It is estimated that over 80% of the worldos population and 60 million Americans use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). However, although many believe CAM compliments their current traditional healthcare, most do not inform their physicians that they are taking these products. And, many providers donot ask or discuss CAM use with their patients, although one survey of 181 cardiologists found that half of them took antioxidant vitamins, themselves.
What many people donot realize is that there is no regulatory agency in charge of the supplement industry. Herbal products are not tested for purity, effectiveness and safety as drugs are. In 1994, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) was enacted that requires the FDA to prove beyond any doubt that a supplement is unsafe before removing it from the market. Other than regulating what can be included on the label, they are unable to enforce any other regulation. There is no incentive for supplement companies to conduct research because they are unable to patent nnaturalo products. Those marketing herbs and other supplements save millions of dollars not spent on research, or worse, yet, conduct their own presearchq, which often does not include rigorous controls. Although there are many excellent and reputable supplement companies on the market, the typical consumer is unlikely to know who the credible ones are. Many independent sales representatives only know what the company tells them, and are as unaware as the consumer.
Even if the supplements are pure and not harmful by themselves, problems arise when combined with drugs. Dietary supplements may compete with drugs, leading to toxicity or treatment failure of that drug. An estimated 4 million people are at risk for herbal-prescription drug interactions. Here is a list of the most common interactions between supplements and drugs:
* Warfarin (Coumadin) is used to prevent blood clotting for those at risk for deep vein thrombosis, stroke, or heart attack. Supplements that can change bleeding time controlled by this drug include flaxseed oil and fish oil supplements, goldenseal, saw palmetto, feverfew, garlic, ginseng, and willow bark, just to name a few.
Cancer rates and cardiovascular disease in the United States alone are among the highest in the world as a result of technology interfering with our food supply and living environments. Do I believe in detox? Well, most of it is plain simple commonsense – proper diet, judicious supplementation, adequate rest, exercise, stress-relieving techniques. Wrong consumption of substances that other people may claim that these things can help in detoxification can impact the overall process. Scientists estimate that over 50 percent of the U.S. population consumes too much heavy metal. Itos not hard to believe when you consider the metals found in industrial byproducts, tainted drinking water, pesticides and even dental fillings.
On the other hand, drug dependence often begins with the misuse of legal drugs like prescription drugs and inhalants. Inhalants are legal substances that becomes illegal when use in a manner that causes a person to get high.
* Digoxin is another heart medication. Ginseng has been noted to falsely elevate blood digoxin levels. Some herbs that will affect drug effectiveness include senna, licorice, aloe, cascara, hawthorne, foxglove, goldenseal and guar gum.
* Phenytoin is a drug used for seizures. Herbal interactions to be aware of include ginkgo biloba, white willow, lemon balm, skull cap, kava kava, and valerian root, to name a few. It is also important to know that Folate supplementation is necessary with Phenytoin, but excess Folate can be harmful.
* Itos important to take calcium supplements and vitamin D two hours apart from taking either Phenytoin or Digoxin in order to not interfere with these drugos effects.
Of particular concern are interactions with the herb St. Johnos Wort, which is taken by 7.5 million Americans as a depression remedy. This herb can cause serious consequences when taken with drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, or Paxil, as well as warfarin, cyclosporine, and oral contraceptives. This herb may also interact with Digoxin, chemotherapy drugs, and other drugs, causing treatment failure. Some of these interactions are serious enough that if St. Johnos Wort were a drug, the government would restrict marketing, make it a prescription-only item, or require label warnings.
So, what can one do??
Anyone taking a dietary supplement should first do their homework. Know exactly what the purpose of a particular supplement is for and learn all known interactions. There are many excellent informational websites on the internet. A good rule of thumb is to look for a site that does not offer products for sale!
Itos also important to inform your healthcare professional what supplements you are taking, in order to avoid potential supplement-drug interactions that could put you at medical risk. Although many credible professionals sell products, there are just as many who sell products but donot really understand the physiology of the human body and are just out to make money. Supplement sales is a very popular neasyo way to make money today!
Itos just as important to do oneos homework when looking for a complementary care practitioner. Although this is only one set of criteria, the best recommendation is to look for one or any of these: A pharmacist or registered dietitian who is educated in medicinal herbs, a physician who specializes in functional medicine, or an MD, OD, ND, DC, PharmD or RD who also has the CCN credential.
Donot be afraid to take supplements. They serve a very beneficial purpose. But do know why youore taking each supplement, just as you should know why you take any prescription medications. Be an informed consumer and take responsibility for your health and wellbeing.
There are a variety of ways that drug and alcohol rehab work to help a person stop abusing a controlled substance. One way is commonly referred to as ncold turkeyo.
There has been a lot in the news lately about the amazing healing properties of turmeric, a free-radical-fighting antioxidant-rich curry spice that has been hailed as a defense against both cancer and Alzheimeros. Research has shown that addiction is treatable. Drug Detox today and pass your drug test! In addition to serving as a powerful chelating agent, this product will support the liver in its process of cleansing and detoxification and replenish the body with minerals that are often depleted by these metals.
Massages and spa treatments basically also do the same thing. Spirit, mind & body must be in alignment for total well-being, a concept that’s only recently recognised in the West, but has been acknowledged in India and China for millennia.
Simple detox diets concentrate more on fresh, simple foods. These things will enable you to generate simpler time detoxifying your body.
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