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Natural is Always Better...or is it?

© Keri

It seems that more and more of us yearn for the uncomplicated basics of life without all the highly commercialized and expensive packaging. The manufacturers of herbal supplements and homeopathic remedies have been quick to take advantage of those yearnings. Commercials for all natural products have become as slick as their pharmaceutical counterparts.

In the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) controls pharmaceuticals. Part of the approval process includes studies to show the effectiveness of the drug and the possible adverse reactions and potential side effects. While no one can argue that the process is without flaw, there are at least some quality control measures that the companies must meet before they can market their products.

The US Food and Drug Administration has no control over the many food supplements sold in the US. There are no quality control regulations to protect the consumer and no controls over the types of unsubstantiated claims that many manufacturers make. "Herbal" and "natural" have become the bywords of the day. Advertisements promoting the use of such supplements compete with their drug company counterparts. The big difference is that while the drug companies are required to list potential side effects and possible drug interactions, the marketers of natural supplements do not.

Many people learned this to their lasting sorrow in the 1980s. L-tryptophan was promoted as a “natural” sleep inducer. There was at least one contaminated batch of the supplement sold in the US. This contaminant contained one or more of the L-tryptophan molecules allowing the body to recognize it as L-tryptophan. Result was eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS) a progressive muscle disorder that also effected the central nervous system. Over 40 people died and more than 2000 are now disabled.

There are many natural remedies sold for everything from the common cold to weight loss. These remedies contain herbs, minerals, vitamins and/or hormones in various combinations. It is not easy to find out potential adverse reactions, especially from those companies and individuals making a profit on the product. Beware of companies or individuals that are out to sell you a cure.

Many popular weight loss aids advertise that they increase the metabolism by “stimulating the thyroid”. Some contain animal thyroid tissue; some use herbs like ephedrine or alternatives that stimulate both the adrenal and thyroid glands. These stimulants can put one into a state of hyperthyroidism with all the symptoms of Graves’ disease. The good news is that if you stop the supplements the thyroid usually returns to its normal state.