Adventures + Misadventures in the Supplement Jungle
Hi. My name is Melanie Ryan, and I am a pharmacist in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I am also a cancer survivor.
In 2014, I participated in Wings of Hope’s A Time to Heal. This 12-week program proved to be an enlightening and uplifting experience - introducing me to many different topics and countless great people, including Carolyn Ettinger, the executive director of Wings of Hope. One of the sessions covered during the program is “Adventures and Misadventures in the Supplement Jungle.” Being a pharmacist, this piqued my interest (especially since one of the professors from pharmacy school had written the chapter!). It was at this time that Carolyn allowed me to be the guest presenter for this session for future A Time to Heal programs.
As you can imagine, my cancer diagnosis was accompanied by a variety of side effects - both physical and mental - fatigue, nausea, insomnia, worry, stress. When I was receiving chemotherapy and treatment, amongst the unusual prescription and infusion medications used to fight cancer, I ventured into the world of supplements and herbal medications to help combat additional side effects. I don’t claim to be an expert on herbal supplementation, but I do have a vested interest and believe there is a place for it in the world of modern medicine . “Alternative” or “complementary” medicine are terms used for medical products and practices that are not part of standard medical care (i.e. doctors, nurses, physical therapy). Alternative medicines are products or practices used in place of standard medical care. Complementary medicine is used in addition to standard medical care. In most situations, herbal supplements are considered to be alternative or complementary.
Claims made about alternative medicine can sound promising, such as “we’ve found the fountain of youth.” However, there are not always studies that support the safety and usefulness of many alternative medicines and herbal supplements. As a pharmacist, I depend on scientific literature and/or proof of effectiveness in my day-to-day work in order to determine the best medications for patients. I rely on the same literature or proof when recommending (or using) any alternative medicines or herbal supplements. My motto is, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t true!”
You might ask, “How do you know that an alternative medicine or herbal supplement is safe?” Any medication, whether it is considered standard/modern or an herbal supplement, is not without risk. All have the potential for side effects, toxicities and interactions with other medications. The first place to start when considering an alternative medication or herbal supplement is to discuss it with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. They can inform you of potential interactions with your other medications and any side effects that may be important to look for. These professionals also have access to resources that evaluate the literature that either supports or discourages the use of an alternative or herbal supplement.
What I have learned as a pharmacist is that there is no such thing as a “magic bullet” - ultimately, healthy lifestyle choices are the best approach to becoming and staying healthy. If you can get supplementation from a natural source (i.e. produce, meat, dairy products), it is easier for your body to process, safer and much cheaper than an herbal product that you would purchase off the shelf.
My approach to alternative medications and herbal supplements is to start with one product at the lowest dose. I would advise against trying several new products at once - and especially not at the highest dose. Doing so would make it difficult to pinpoint which product or dosage might be causing any effects (either positive or negative) that you may experience. If you find that the one product isn’t working or you are having side effects that do not subside, stop using the product and allow it to clear from your system for a week or so before trying something else.
If you find yourself curious about alternative medicine and herbal supplements, do your homework! I think you’ll find it can be a very helpful and useful addition to any standard medicine therapy. Perhaps if you have the opportunity to participate in A Time to Heal in the future, our paths will cross. In the mean time, if there is any additional information I can help with, please reach out. Carolyn has my contact information.