Side Effects of Natural Remedies/Alternative Medicine

For those of you new to my blog, I have to preface this post by saying that I love alternative medicine. I am getting my MS in Acupuncture, and I will be getting an additional certificate in Chinese Medicine (which means Chinese herbalism). In addition, I think many other alternative therapies are wonderful, and after I graduate from my current program, I hope to continue to learn about many of them and to be able to integrate some of them into my practice. For more on why I love natural medicine, see my last post, Natural Medicine vs. Western Medicine.

That being said, the comments on my last post have made it clear that some people have a misunderstanding about how natural remedies work and believe that they don't have any side effects. This assumption has the potential to lead to some very serious consequences (and some less-serious but certainly unpleasant consequences), so I am going to attempt to clear that misconception up.

Let's start with a definition. According to MedicineNet.com, side effects are, "Problems that occur when treatment goes beyond the desired effect. Or problems that occur in addition to the desired therapeutic effect." Got that? Good.

Now for a very simplistic look at biology and medicine. The human body is a complicated, fascinating, and amazing machine. Take a peek in any anatomy and physiology text book, and it is likely to blow your mind. The body runs due to chemistry (such as neurotransmitters, and hormones), biology (such as the good bacteria that live in our guts), electricity (action potentials), and structure (the location of everything in the body). In order to do something as simple as blinking your eyes, there is a complicated chain reaction of events that must occur perfectly, or it won't work. The body needs to be in a state of homeostasis (which is quite complicated but can be very simplistically defined as balance) in order to keep those reactions going and to be healthy. The number of things going on in your body that are beyond your conscious control in any given moment is staggering. Like any complicated machine, things go wrong from time to time, which can be due to external factors (trauma, viruses, etc) or internal factors (genetic mutation, autoimmune disorders, etc). Usually, the body can take care of itself, but occasionally, it can't, and that results in disease, pain, and in extreme circumstances, death.

Medicine, whether western or alternative, is designed to help the body out and hopefully to fix what has gone wrong. In order to do that, it must cause a change in the chemistry, biology, electricity, or structure (or some combination of the four). Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to affect one aspect of the body without having an effect on many aspects of the body. Sometimes those effects are pleasant, sometimes they are benign and unnoticed, but sometimes they cause new problems, which is what side effects are. Some side effects are so bad, that they may be worse than the initial problem, but some are minor irritations that go away quickly.

To be perfectly frank, I can't think of a single remedy - alternative or western - that doesn't have the potential for side effects and unintended results (this is why malpractice insurance exists). Often, alternative therapies have fewer and less intense side effects than western medicine, but there is always the chance that something unwanted will happen.

Here are some examples (there are way too many kinds of alternative therapies for me to touch on all of them, so this is just a few):

Herbal remedies: Herbs, like western pharmaceuticals, affect the chemistry of the body. I said the following in a comment in my previous blog post: Licorice, for example, can cause high blood pressure. Marshmallow root can slow or block the body's ability to absorb certain nutrients, which can lead to conditions such as iron deficiency anemia. Even benign herbs like mint and ginger can cause acid reflux. If you use the wrong herb for a condition, you can make the condition worse. Some herbs, such as Digitalis purperia, are safe only for very specific and serious illnesses, and only in very small does, but are deadly when consumed in any other circumstance. Some herbs, like aconite, require special preparation in order to be safe for use. Some herbs are safe for most people but can cause a pregnant woman to miscarry. Some herbs can be addictive. Any herb can cause an allergic reaction, which can range from minor irritation to the potentially deadly anaphylactic shock.

Acupuncture: Acupuncture affects the chemistry and electricity of the body. I would like to say that my chosen profession doesn't have any side effects, but that would be a lie. When done by a trained professional, the potential side effects are minimal, but they're possible. The most common side effect is minor bruising. Other possible side effects include (but are not limited to) drowsiness, emotional upset (this is a strange one, but I've experienced it first hand), dizziness, and even fainting.

Homeopathy: My knowledge of homeopathy is limited, so I'm not going to attempt to explain what it does. Many people think that it's nothing more than a sugar pill. I have heard anecdotes of people who have had negative emotional reactions to homeopathic remedies (anxiety, irritability, and anger). But even if you're convinced that they're just sugar pills (the main ingredients are sucrose and lactose), the pills are made from ingredients that have an effect on the body. A friend of mine is allergic to cane sugar and had an allergic response to taking a homeopathic remedy.

Energetic healing: This includes things like Reiki, laying of hands, and magical healing, among others. These techniques are trying to tap into the body's energetic fields (which is part of the electricity of the body). Potential side effects of energetic healing include (but are not limited to) dizziness or vertigo, light-headedness, nausea, grogginess, fatigue, hyperactivity, emotional upset, headaches, tingling, pain, flushed face, warm or cold extremities, sweating, irritability, nightmares, depression, and mania.

Structural healing: This includes things like massage, and chiropractic, among others. Obviously, these are trying to address structural problems. Any time you change the structure of the body, you also cause chemical reactions to take place. Possible side effects include bruising, swelling, and nerve impingement among others. Massage can also spread an invading pathogen (bacteria or virus), making you feel worse if you're sick or getting sick.

Miscellaneous: There are a lot of other alternative therapies that people can do that are mostly safe but do have the potential for side effects. Epsom salt baths can increase blood pressure. According to a friend of mine who was a registered nurse with an Ear Nose and Throat specialist, Neti pots have been known to cause ear infections on occasion. Steam inhalations can cause burns if not done properly. The list goes on and on.

The point I am ultimately trying to make with all of this is that you need to stop and think before you treat yourself for medical conditions. Don't assume that because something is natural or alternative that it is completely safe. Do research. The internet is an amazing treasure trove of information. Ask health care providers and healers if there are any possible side effects before being treated, and tell them about all of the supplements and other healing methods you are currently using. When taking herbs, be aware that herbs can have negative reactions with each other and with pharmaceuticals. If you are taking any herbs but need to start a western medication, check with your doctor and herbalist to make sure they are safe when used together, or stop taking the herbs. Alternative medicine is wonderful when used correctly and safely, but it should not be used indiscriminately. Be safe, and be healthy.

Natural Medicine vs. Western Medicine

I am a huge fan of natural medicine. When I get sick or experience pain, I turn to herbs, acupuncture, diet changes, and other natural remedies long before I look to western medicine. When I get congested, I pull out the Neti pot, do steam inhalations, and/or take a tincture rather than pop a couple of Sudafed. Most of the time, it works amazingly well, and I'm able to go about my business.

Many people don't understand why I choose natural remedies instead of over-the-counter medicines and prescriptions. After all, many natural remedies haven't been proven to work through double blind research studies, and the FDA doesn't have the same strict regulations on herbs that it does on drugs (though to be clear, the FDA has extremely strict regulations on the production of herbs and herbal products. They require rigorous testing to make sure that the products that get to the shelves of stores are safe. They just don't verify the claims that are made on the packaging. If a product has been proven to be unsafe, the FDA will take it off the shelves. For a little more info, check out this page.) Natural remedies may require more work (a steam inhalation, for instance takes 10-15 minutes and access to a stove, a pot, and a towel - fine when you're at home, but challenging if you're at work).

For me, there are a few reasons:

My body is extremely sensitive, and if there is some obscure side effect of a drug, there's a good chance that I'll get it. With several different over the counter medications, I have had had very scary experiences, and in one case, an OTC was slowly putting my life in danger. Prescription medications have also given me horrific side effects. I have experienced far fewer side effects from natural remedies (that isn't to say there aren't any - just that my experiences have been better)

In some situations, I've tried western medicines, and they haven't done anything for me, but natural remedies have fixed my problems.

Many conditions that western medicine can only fix with dangerous or addictive medicines can be safely regulated with natural remedies - especially pain. Natural medicines can also correct some problems that western medicine can only correct with surgery.

I have spent a lot of time with plants. I like plants. Plants can provide us with most of what we need. Western medicine takes components of plants, isolates them, and increases them. In nature, plants have many components, all of which interact with each other. In many cases, one component will mitigate the negative effects of another, or one will magnify the effects of another (this is also true of herbal combinations). I have found that using the whole plant instead of specific constituents can provide gentler, more complete healing.

If I am preparing the remedies myself, I can be sure that the ingredients I am using meet my requirements for sustainability. Many herbal companies (though not all) are committed to protecting the environment and use only organic growing methods. I have been able to visit several farms and production plants and have a really good grasp on what companies I want to support. Western drugs are often produced by companies that are more interested in making a profit than making people better or protecting the planet.

Natural remedies can often be used as preventative care, whereas western medicine is almost exclusively used after a problem has arisen.

That all being said, there are times when western pharmaceuticals are the best choice. Very recently, I got very sick. I tried pretty much every natural remedy available - acupuncture, herbs, tinctures, epsom salt baths, something called the wet sock treatment, homeopathy - you name it, I tried it. I kept getting worse. When I started taking antibiotics, I started getting better right away (although, unsurprisingly, I did experience some nasty side effects). I hate how overused antibiotics are in our society, but when you need them, you need them. I will also admit that there have been times when I've had a headache or cramps that were so bad, I gave in and took Tylenol or Advil. (Although, since I have discovered cramp bark tincture and raspberry leaf tea, I haven't needed NSAIDs for cramps). I am lucky in that I don't have any diseases or chronic conditions that require that I take drugs regularly to stay alive. In those situations, I am all for pharmaceuticals. Some people also require daily medications for psychological conditions in order to function properly in society.

People who dismiss all western medications for all conditions piss me off as much as people who dismiss all natural remedies (and yes, they truly piss me off). We live in a time when we have the benefit of thousands of years of experience with natural remedies as well as modern technology and medicine. They each have their place. I am grateful for herbs, and I am grateful for antibiotics - when they're needed. I think vaccinations are awesome (hooray for never having to worry about smallpox or polio!). I think acupuncture is astonishing. Why limit ourselves to one narrow concept of health and healing?

****SAFETY NOTICE****

Please note that herbs have major effects on your body, as do pharmaceuticals. Be careful when taking herbs. Keep track of all that you are taking on a regular basis. If you ever have any questions, talk to a medical professional who has been educated in herbalism. There are some nasty drug/herb interactions, so if your health care provider puts you on medications, stop taking your herbs unless you've confirmed with them that it is safe to continue. Please don't put yourself at risk.

Candida Cleanse: Day 14

Whew! In 1 hour and 20 minutes, I will have completed 2 weeks of my candida cleanse. I haven't had any symptoms of die-off in almost a week. Several of my candida symptoms are improving dramatically, which is awesome. Hooray for experiments that work!

Unfortunately, on Thursday, I started to experience massive sugar cravings. Why I didn't get them earlier, I have no idea, but for the past 2 days, I've had visions of Skittles, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, cookies, chocolate, and ice cream noisily tapdancing through my head. I've managed to hold off on succumbing, but it has been tough. Fortunately, it hasn't been anywhere near as difficult as when I quit caffeine. That was pure misery. This is more of an annoyance. I almost gave in to the craving this evening, but somehow I managed to park my butt and not get a cupcake.

My goal is to keep away from the refined sugar until I go to Colorado in a week and a half for my best friend's wedding. At that point, my cleanse is done. There's no way I'm going to pass on gluten free, dairy free wedding torte (hooray for having a best friend who is also a glutard!). I'll be honest, though, if these cravings keep up the way they are now, I might not be able to hold off for that long. We shall see...

Candida Cleanse: Day 8

After 1 week of my cleanse, I don't have that much to report. My die-off symptoms seem to have gone away for the most part (I still don't have the best appetite ever, but it's improving). I decided last night that after a full week of not having any fruit at all that I would let myself start eating fruit again and add a probiotic to my regimen. I was thrilled about my decision to eat fruit when I went to the farmer's market where they had beautiful Rainier cherries, and lush, red strawberries. Eating the myriad delicious local fruits that are available is my favorite thing about summer, so not getting to eat any was a bit like torture. I suppose if adding fruit to my diet causes my cleanse to fail miserably, I'll just wait until winter to try again.

Candida Cleanse: Day 6

I don't have much to report. Aside from agonizing gastric pains that left me doubled over on Wednesday, I've been doing OK. I haven't had any real sugar cravings. Occasionally, I think that it would be nice to eat some sugar, but then I don't, and it's fine. The only really strange thing is that I have had no appetite. I'll feel ravenously hungry, but when it comes time to eat, I have a difficult time choking it down. I've broken down and allowed myself to eat a few processed foods (namely rice crackers that I normally inhale in the space of a heartbeat) just so that I can get enough to eat, but even those hold no appeal. This complete lack of desire to eat is probably why I'm not having any difficulty with not eating sugar. If I don't want to eat anything, that includes the things I'm not supposed to eat.

Candida Cleanse: Day 3

I'm at the end of Day 3 of my candida cleanse, and while it hasn't been the most fun thing ever, it hasn't been the worst thing ever either.

Figuring out what to eat has been interesting. So many things that I eat have sugar, sweeteners, or fruit in them! It has also been frustrating when I eat what should be a perfectly filling meal, but since there aren't a lot of carbs, I don't feel quite satisfied. I feel full, but I feel like I need to eat more. I should probably cook up a big pot of brown rice just for the carbs.

Yesterday, I felt like I was going a little bit crazy, so I popped some popcorn (0g sugar!) in coconut oil and then ate it all. It was over the top, but it made me feel a little better.

I've started to experience some of the candida die-off symptoms. I'm fatigued and have had a headache. I also felt quite bloated, and I even felt a tiny bit tipsy last night (and not a drop of alcohol crossed my lips).

I'm definitely looking forward to the end of this cleanse. I will be thrilled when I can eat fruit again.

Candida Cleanse: Day 1

I've decided to try a candida cleanse. Candida is a yeast that grows naturally in the body. It becomes a problem when it gets out of balance with the rest of the body's natural flora (mainly bacteria). There are many symptoms associated with candidiasis, many of which I have. A list of some common symptoms can be found here. In case you're dying to know what my symptoms are, I have acne, fatigue, red eyes, intense sugar cravings, and digestive issues.

I am going about my cleanse by eliminating all sugar from my diet for 2 weeks. This includes fruit (which is going to be extremely challenging), honey, high fructose corn syrup (which I was already avoiding), and anything else that's labeled a sugar. My diet is going to consist of vegetables (including fruits that everyone confuses with vegetables, like peppers and avocados), whole gluten-free grains, proteins, and good fats. It's also important to avoid vinegar (with the exception of raw apple cider vinegar) because it can encourage candida growth. I won't be eating any processed foods at all, and I won't be going out to eat. In addition to this diet of doom, I'm taking herbal supplements that are geared towards killing candida. The supplement regimen consists of fiber and 2 different liquid extracts.

Apparently, I have intense sugar cravings to look forward to. I also will probably experience a whole slew of nasty symptoms associated with the death of the candida. I can't wait (for those of you who couldn't tell, that was sarcasm).

After the initial 2 weeks, I'm going to slowly reintroduce certain foods, but ideally, I'd like to keep my sugar intake to a minimum. When I eliminated sugar from my diet a couple of years back, I felt amazing, and I'd like to feel that way again.

I'm going to try to keep track of how things are going here. If I come up with any delicious recipes that work with this cleanse, I'll be sure to share.

So far today, it has been pretty uneventful. I've taken my fiber, eaten some raw almonds, and taken the liquid extracts. I'm about to start preparing my lunch - a salad made of organic baby greens, avocado, and raw zucchini, with a dressing made of raw apple cider vinegar and olive oil. Tonight, I'll probably make something with quinoa.