Is it safe? When to Use Complementary or Integrative Products and Practices

Posted on

Oct 18, 2018

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An entire branch of the National Institutes of Health is dedicated to complementary and integrative health.
This field offers treatments and therapies that do not require surgery or medication, allowing a more holistic and gentler approach. Many are quite effective, and for certain people they can be more effective without the side effects of more traditional treatments. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, abbreviated as NCCIH has great resources. Their main website is https://nccih.nih.gov/

When deciding whether to use a complementary product or practice, it is important to be informed of the risks. While we may know someone who tried a certain approach or supplement and it worked, everyone is different. We may have a different chronic condition or be taking a different prescription that could interact, or it may be the perfect thing for our situation. But how do we know what is safe?

According to the NCCIH, mind and body practices like meditation and yoga are typically considered safe. Nutritional supplements may be a little more difficult to evaluate, since manufacturers do not have to prove their safety. One concern is the possibility of the supplement interacting negatively with a prescribed medication, so neither pill works well and may in fact cause dangerous side effects. Another is that the product may be contaminated, especially in the cases of supplements marketed for weight loss, sexual health, or physical performance.

It is worth doing the homework before trying something new. The NCCIH website has a helpful link entitled, How Safe Is This Product or Practice, https://nccih.nih.gov/health/safety/topics.htm which lists every treatment from A to Z. Wondering about Acupuncture or Zinc supplements, or anything in between? The site has evidence-based research answers.

Complementary and integrative practices and products can improve and have improved health related quality of life and better management of health conditions for millions of people. It is important to research for ourselves and speak with trusted providers so our choices to improve our lives are based on facts and more likely to give us the outcome we seek.

Editors Note: This article was submitted by Dr. Katarina Felsted, Assistant Professor with the Gerontology Interdisciplinary Program at the University of Utah. You may reach Dr. Felsted at 801.585.7438 or katarina.felsted@nurs.utah.edu

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