All Natural - Not Always Safe or Effective

I’m a big natural supplement kind of guy. If there is a natural solution that works, I am willing to try it.

However, Rick of TotallyADD has a good point in the video below. Ditch water is all natural too, but you probably won’t be swilling any as part of your health regimen.

A tool I have been using lately is Google search. If you type in WebMD (it can be in all lower case letters) and the name of the supplement you wish to find more information on – for example DHEA – you will get a list of results.

Look for the result that says:

DHEA: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions and Warnings – WebMD

The URL listed at the bottom of the search result will include “ingredientmono” without the quotation marks – this stands for ingredient monograph.

You get a nice listing that includes an overview, what the purported uses are, what it may or may not actually help with and the side effects, a list of drug interactions, and the proper dosing, if any is known.

While I am a sceptical person, willing to do my own research, I also respect and value the opinion of the medical community. When researching prescription medicine or natural supplements, I try to keep in mind that it is best to search for unbiased information. A company selling natural supplements has just as much of an interest in selling you their product as a pharmaceutical company does. I’m not saying one is better than another. I am saying that you should do your own research and find a trusted source of information, based on science that will give you an idea whether the supplement (or prescription drug for that matter) is safe and effective.

Nobody wants to pay for something that doesn’t work, and certainly no one want to take something with the hope that it helps, only to find out it has harmed their health instead. Always remember caveat emptor – buyer beware.

 

 

 

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