The use of supplements have become popular over the last decade. What role, if any, do you see natural medicines having in our modern healthcare system?

Answer 1

The general public has been losing trust in healthcare providers over the years, see the Gallup polls results on the most honest and ethical professionals. This lack of faith in providers and medical care in general causes people to take a DIY attitude towards their health instead of referring to the professionals. Supplements, not requiring prescriptions, are widespread and easy to obtain. They are regulated by the FDA (claims on labeling) and the FTC (claims on advertising) to provide some level of safety to the public (see the 1994 DSHEA act), but they are not required to demonstrate efficacy in the way that prescription drugs must prove before they come to market. Drugs have rigorous requirements, usually randomized controlled trials, that supplements are exempt from. Natural medicines complicates treatments, as they can interact with other supplements and herbs, and medicines, and be unsafe in some health conditions. However, this information is not usually known to individuals outside the health care fields. People may believe a product is safe because it is natural, and are unaware of the many dangers of completely natural products (poison oak/ivy!, foxglove's digitalis!). Health care providers have to ask open-ended questions of their patients to obtain the information of what products they are taking in addition to those prescribed, in order to monitor their health conditions safely, adjust doses as needed to avoid drug interactions, and have appropriate awareness of possible complications.