Is It Safe To Self-Prescribe?
As more and more people are turning away from the traditional medical system, the act of self-prescribing seems to be rising. I get it, when your doctors prove insufficient you’re forced to take matters into your own hands. That’s part of the reason I became a naturopath. However, self-medicating, whether herbal or pharmacological, can be extremely dangerous if you lack the proper knowledge.
You rarely come across a medicine with no side effects, contraindications or interactions. This is especially true for herbs and nutraceuticals. A common misconception is that just because a herb is natural it won’t have any major effects. This way of thinking is extremely naive as many herbs interact the same way drugs do. In fact, many drugs are made from compounds initially derived from herbs. Just because something is natural it doesn’t make it safe.
The herb liquorice, otherwise known as Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a commonly self-prescribed herb for colds and inflammation. When taken improperly it can cause high blood pressure, deplete sodium and potassium levels (leading to kidney problems), reduce testosterone levels, increase side effects of oral contraceptives and interact with chemotherapy agents, corticosteroids and anticoagulants.
Melatonin, another ‘natural’ substance, is commonly self-prescribed to aid in sleep. While on the surface this may not seem like a big deal, however, melatonin on the market is often dosed way too high at around 3-6 milligrams, while the body naturally produces very little. Secondly, as a hormone itself, it has powerful influences on other hormones within the body, affecting puberty and menstruation.
Not all supplements contain what they claim. In Australia and the US, therapeutic substances are subject to rigorous testing before they’re made available on the market. In Australia, the TGA quality controls for ingredients, excipients, dosages and product claims. Any medicine that has been approved by the TGA will be labelled with an AUST L or R number to inform consumers and health professionals of its efficacy. If a product is lacking these and is labelled as a ‘dietary supplement’ it’s impossible to know for sure whether the labelled ingredients and dosages are correct and whether it is free from excipients, which can be harmful - especially to immunocompromised individuals. In the case of melatonin, the products (even from brands deemed reliable) contained 15-155% of the dosage labelled on the bottle.
Delaying seeking professional help can do more harm than good. A google search is not a replacement for professional advice. Health practitioners spend years in tertiary educational institutes learning about the pharmacology, adverse effects, interactions, dosages and administrations of medicines and how the biological processes within the body are manipulated when exposed to certain drugs. A google search cannot adequately inform you of all these processes and failing to seek medical intervention when needed can lead to self-misdiagnosis and the progression of a disease that could’ve been prevented.
The key takeaways:
Just because something is natural it doesn’t make it safe
Not all supplements contain what they claim
Delaying seeking professional help can do more harm than good
If you’re struggling with a condition and are seeking help, get in touch. Together, we can get to the root of the problem, correct imbalances and begin your health journey.
