Going Solo on Supplements?

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD SEE A NATURAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER FOR ADVICE ON SUPPLEMENTS

You’ve decided you need or want to take supplements for your medical condition, or you simply want to enhance your overall health. So, let’s take off from there. Which natural supplements do you want to take? It can be a bit overwhelming and confusing. And you may need the advice of a natural health practitioner.

A natural health practitioner improves a patient’s health using natural techniques, medicines, and supplements. There’s a wide variety of professionals included under the umbrella term natural health practitioner. Some natural health practitioners prescribe supplements* as part of their treatment process or regimen. They may also want to prescribe supplements to support your overall health and well-being. These natural health practitioners may include the following: (1)

1. Herbalists study and practice herbalism. It’s the use of plant-based natural methods and medicines to prevent, and treat illness. They usually take a holistic approach when treating disease and prescribe herbal formulations to impact your general health instead of treating a group of symptoms.
2. Practitioners of naturopathic medicine include:
1. Naturopathic physicians. These are called doctors of naturopathic medicine (NMD) or naturopathic doctors (ND). They have studied basic sciences in an accredited four-year, graduate-level school. Some countries require naturopathic doctors to obtain a licence first before practising. That would mean that they have to pass an exam and regularly update their knowledge.



2. Naturopaths. In some countries becoming a naturopathic doctor is not possible, instead naturopaths are qualified through either a naturopathic diploma and/or a bachelor of health science degree. They have studied for three years at an accredited naturopathic school and are able to prescribe supplements.


3. Traditional naturopaths didn’t attend an accredited naturopathic school. In countries or states where there’s no regulation on the practice, they may also prescribe supplements.



4. Healthcare providers with training in naturopathic medicine. These may include doctors of osteopathy, dentists, medical doctors, chiropractors, and nurses. Some of them are also naturopathic doctors or naturopaths.


3. A functional medicine practitioner offers a patient-centred approach to managing chronic diseases. They want to help you answer the fundamental question, “Why are you sick?”. From there, they can personalise the care and treatment you will need. The typical medical conditions they treat include Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, asthma, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, digestive diseases, fibromyalgia, etc.

All of the abovementioned natural health practitioners may at some point prescribe you supplements. Most practitioners in New Zealand and Australia are registered under an organisation created to represent several associations of natural healthcare professionals involved in diverse fields.

It would be ideal for your natural health practitioner to have specific qualifications like an educational background in natural or holistic and conventional medicine practices. Most of them have undergone and passed training for three or more years. Their achievements, certificates, and licences should be displayed in their office for you to see.

*The term supplement in this article refers to substances that contain vitamins, minerals, herb, amino acids, enzymes, and other nutrients either as standalone products or in combination. They can come in various forms, including capsules, tablets, gummies, powders, topical products, and liquids. Products marketed as supplements should have a supplement facts label to show the active ingredients, the amount per serving (dose) and the presence of other non-active ingredients or any additives such as fillers, flavouring, and colours.

Reasons Why You Should See a Natural Health Practitioner for Advice on Supplements

There’s no single magic pill. One supplement will not fix all your health problems. Natural health practitioners provide a holistic approach when it comes to your health.

They don’t just treat your illness and body; they also address your emotions and mental health. The supplement works hand in hand with your change in diet and lifestyle. Natural health practitioners will personally help you realise and accept these concepts.

Supplements aren’t as tightly regulated as medications or drugs. It’s essential to note that they can also have strong positive and possible adverse effects on your body. A natural health practitioner can give you correct and first-hand information about your supplements.

Practitioners can also provide the latest scientific research articles supporting the claims made by the supplement manufacturer, or at least they can point you in the right direction or websites to find them.

Are you pregnant or breastfeeding ? Some supplements may be safe for you as an adult but may be harmful or have negative effects on your baby. A qualified natural health practitioner can inform you about these supplements.

Do you understand everything written on the supplement facts label? You can have a practitioner explain them to you.

A natural health practitioner can tell you the right dose, appropriate timing and duration, and correct route (oral, topical, or intravenous) of the supplement you’re taking. Suppose you’re taking prescription or over-the-counter medications. In that case, a natural health practitioner can educate you on particular herbs or supplements that may interact with certain medicines so that you know which to avoid or can discuss it with your primary health care provider.

The right dose. For example, the dietary supplement magnesium (as magnesium oxide) in pill form is frequently used to prevent and treat migraine. The recommended dose is 400 to 600 mg per day. If you take anything less than 400 mg, you will not be able to appreciate its therapeutic effects. Also, you may experience loose bowels as a side effect. This side effect may be useful for people who suffer from constipation. A natural health practitioner can provide the right dose, and indications directly to you.

Take care of your liver. Your liver is responsible for the breakdown of supplements and medications. It also produces bile which carries away by-products and wastes and is vital for the digestion of fats. A combination of poor quality herbal formulations and long term use could potentially have risks. A natural health practitioner can recommend the highest quality herbal preparations and request pertinent laboratory tests to monitor liver function if this is required.

Unwanted ingredients or additives may be present in your supplements. Manufacturers may justify their presence in your supplements: to improve taste and colour, preserve the formula, and even make supplements look more appealing. These substances (fillers, colourants, and flavours) can negatively impact your health, especially if you take them regularly. Natural health practitioners can make you aware of other supplements that don’t contain these unwanted ingredients, providing you with a better choice. Isn’t that nice?

Practitioner only supplements. These supplements require a prescription from an accredited natural health practitioner. They’re not available for over-the-counter sales and are only available for purchase at health clinics with a prescription. The reason behind their prescription requirement is that they’re of a much higher potency and better quality than over-the-counter supplements. They have also often undergone clinical trials and rigorous testing to ensure that they’re safe and effective. In Australia, a practitioner-only supplement is defined as a complementary medicine registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and supplied directly and exclusively to a natural health practitioner.

Natural health practitioners may also attend regular seminars and training with the manufacturers of these practitioner-only supplements. This will keep them up to date with the latest research regarding these types of supplements.

Multiple supplements. Natural health practitioners can streamline and re-evaluate multiple supplements you might be taking simultaneously. Regular follow-ups will ensure that you’re appropriately guided and don’t run the risk of accumulating or doubling up on the various ingredients in those supplements.

Supplement and food interactions. A dietary supplement and food interaction is a situation in which a particular food (or food ingredient) affects the activity of the supplement. The activity of the supplement may be decreased or increased, or the interaction may produce a new effect that neither makes on its own. Some of these interactions may be secondary to a lack of knowledge about the active ingredients or due to accidental misuse. Natural health practitioners will bring your attention to such things. An example of this type of interaction is how certain fruit juices (grapefruit, orange, apple) decrease herbal medicines' intestinal absorption and activity.

Correct part of the plant? Supplements derived from plants (herbal medicines) can come from different plant parts, including roots, leaves, fruit, flowers, seeds, and bark. Traditional and modern herbal medicine knowledge tells us which plant part should be used in order to have a therapeutic effect. How do you know if the supplement you are taking contains the correctly derived herbal ingredients? This is where a qualified herbalist can guide you.

For example:

1. Gingko biloba tree leaves may enhance brain function among healthy individuals.
2. Chamomile flowers Matricaria recutita are known for their calming properties both for digestion and the nervous system.
3. Echinacea purpurea root contains the alkylamide compounds which contribute to immune modulation activity.

Make sure that you find a qualified natural health practitioner that fits your needs and gives sound advice for supplements. Don’t be afraid to ask about their training & background, affiliation with a health society, and qualifications. And of course, don’t forget to inform your family physician or medical specialist that you’re taking supplements and receiving advice from a natural health practitioner. It’s more enjoyable to take supplements when someone is there to guide you. There’s no reason to go solo.