Mixing Remedies – A Bad Idea
Filed Under Naturopathy |
Did you know that you should never combine prescription medications with any other type of remedy unless prescribed by a doctor? All medications have the potential for side effects. Some side effects are minor and not life threatening such as, dry mouth or slight gastric upset. Conversely, some medications have severe side-effects that can be very life threatening, interfere with the absorption of key nutrients and the function of many enzymes, and counteract the important benefits of other medications.
Did you know that most medications are synthesized from their natural counterparts? So, just because something is touted to be natural doesn’t mean mixing them is safe. For example, before there was aspirin there was its natural plant counterpart found in willow bark. Both can help reduce a fever, manage pain, and thin the blood. The problem arises when willow bark is taken with other products that have the same properties, such as warfarin, coumadin, and vitamin K. Or when an individual who is allergic to aspirin but has the false belief that willow bark is safe, takes willow bark, again because it is natural. For this reason, as well as others, I tend to categorize all remedies, whether natural or synthetic, whether an herb or a vitamin, as drugs.
A drug is defined as a substance taken to: diagnose, medicate, prevent, and treat. A drug can effect non-targeted organs in the body thus resulting in unwanted side-effects, can neutralize or counteract the effects of other drugs, and can worsen certain pre-existing health problems
Although remedies taken in their natural form are not as potent as their synthetic pharmacological counterpart, they are still capable of doing great harm in large doses or when combined with other medications or remedies. Therefore, all supplements, whether vitamins, minerals, herbal, or homeopathic need to be reported and discussed with your doctor. The doctor can review for: proper dosing, interactions with other remedies, reduced absorption potential, harmful effects, and the like.
Armed with knowledge you can improve your chances of better-informed decisions about your health and the health of those you love. You’ll be glad you did!
Dr. Linda Mundorff
