It seems that every time I turn on the radio or television, I hear the claim “It’s all natural” as if all natural is always good for us. The other day I went into one of those bath and body stores to purchase shaving cream, when the sales clerk approached me with the hope of selling a new and improved shaving cream and aftershave combo pack. I explained that I was happy with my current brand of shaving cream and had used it for years with great success, without breakouts to my sensitive skin, when she exclaimed, “Sir, it’s all natural.” I quipped, “Well, poison ivy is all natural—but I won’t be rubbing it on my face.”
Radio and television ads seem to be obsessed with “all natural” from skin care products to alternatives for Viagra® and Prozac®. Our obsession with natural is fueled by the appeal to be “wholesome,” “green,” “organic,” and yes, “all natural.” Is it possible that our fixation on natural has led us to falsely believe that “all natural” is better for us, without questioning whether or not it’s safe? Belladonna (Solanum) sap, mercury, and arsenic are a few examples of “all natural,” or should I say—naturally deadly.
With all the hype surrounding the legalization of marijuana (for medicinal purposes), some proponents say it is “harmless and good for you” because it’s an “all natural” herb that can have health benefits. I heard a report of a woman who claimed it was safe to breastfeed while smoking marijuana, because it’s “natural.” Another person argued that marijuana is safe because there are no known cases of anyone overdosing on it. Maybe those opinions are proof that marijuana is bad for you, because those people seem to have smoked from the same wacky pipe. I question beliefs such as the following: hot smoke in your lungs is okay, and something that can cause anxiety, depression, and psychosis without killing you cannot be bad as long as it’s all natural.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued dietary supplement alerts and information about many all natural ingredients, including these common products: aristolochic acid, silver (colloidal silver), ephedrine, kava, red yeast rice, and St. John’s wort. As reported by the FDA, St. John’s wort may interfere with prescription medications used to treat medical conditions such as heart disease, depression, seizures, certain cancers, and oral contraceptives. Red yeast rice may cause permanent kidney impairment, especially when used with antibiotics, medications for high cholesterol, and drugs used to treat fungal and HIV infections. These are only two examples of all natural products that may cause harm.
If you are considering using any dietary supplement or all natural products, first gather information from reliable sources such as the FDA (www.fda.gov), National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (www.nccam.nih.gov), and my favorite consumer health source, the Preston Medical Library at library@utmck.edu or call 865-305-9525. These are free community resources available to you no matter where you live. I encourage you to take advantage of them whenever possible.
Don’t get me wrong—I am a strong proponent of natural alternatives such as acupuncture, massage, and herbs. However, just because something is natural and organic doesn’t mean that it is safe to use in every situation. Please discuss any herbs, dietary supplements, or alternative medicine with your healthcare provider. Never underestimate the power of Mother Nature
Howard Baker, RN BSN
For questions, comments, or suggestions on topics you want to read about please e-mail me at: howard@howardsbaker.com
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