Modern medical care is more advanced than ever before. However, for some patients and conditions, doctor-prescribed medications and treatment plans may not be achieving the desired level of success. During these situations, patients may look for other options, one of which is natural health care. If you are interested in the use of natural health care products or techniques to improve your health or the health of a loved one, here are some tips to ensure that your experimentation process is a safe one.
Know the ingredients
While natural health products like herbal supplements are regulated as dietary supplements, they do not receive the rigorous testing and evaluation that prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs face. Before purchasing and using any natural health care product, it is important to always review each ingredient and do your research to determine what effect each one may have on your body.
Be careful when using RX medications
Herbal medications and many other products used in natural health care can have strong effects on the human body. The effects can be even more pronounced when taken along with medications prescribed by your doctor or even over-the-counter medicine. Before deciding to try any natural health product or any herbal supplement, always take time to discuss the matter with your medical care team or your pharmacist to ensure that doing so will not cause an unpleasant or unsafe reaction.
Take heed of dosage instructions
When a patient visits a medical care provider for an ailment, any prescribed medications will have exact dosage amounts to lessen the risk of reactions and help to prevent overdoses from occurring. Because the herbals and other ingredients found in natural health products can also cause unpleasant reactions when taken in large quantities or used carelessly, it is critically important to always know and abide by the dosage instructions offered on the packaging. Persons who are very small in size may even want to take a half dose at first, to ensure that no ill effects will occur.
Opt for a reputable brand
Like all products, opting for one that has been tested and proven safe is the best option for consumers who are looking to try a natural health product for the first time. Taking time to review the product packaging, visit the company's website, and call to ask questions can help ensure that you purchase a safe natural health care product.
