Complimentary medicine: what's the harm?

3 January 2011: The use of complementary medicines continues to rise, yet many consumers are being duped into buying products that are not only ineffective, but also potentially harmful. So what should South Africans be doing to protect their health and wallets?

As the use of complementary or self-styled ‘natural’ medicines continues to grow dramatically in South Africa, the South African Medical Nutritional Institute (MNI) has urged consumers to exercise caution when purchasing these products and make sure they opt only for treatments that are substantiated by clinical evidence or data.

Against a backdrop of spiralling healthcare costs, consumers the world over are looking for less expensive and gentler alternatives to conventional prescription medicines. According to a US government survey released in December 2008, 38% of adult Americans and 12% of American children are currently using some form of complementary and alternative medicine . Research also suggests that a staggering 69% of Americans will use at least one type of complementary medicine therapy in any given year.

This trend is reflected around the world, with reports suggesting that over 100 million Europeans regularly use complementary medicines and the World Health Organisation (WHO) noting that at least 70% of the population in most developed countries has used some form of complementary medicine.(1) The booming popularity of complementary medicines has made it one of the fastest growing sectors within healthcare and thus an extremely lucrative market. Although current figures are hard to come by, the WHO reported that the global market for traditional therapies was already US$ 60 billion a year in 2002(2) and a 2005 survey of the US ‘Personal Health’ market (which includes natural/organic foods, supplements and complementary medicine) revealed it was worth US$ 118 billion back then.(3)

“Complementary medicine is a burgeoning global industry,” says Dr Conrad Smith, a director of MNI and GP in private practice in Johannesburg. “The fact that this sector is growing as rapidly in South Africa as other parts of the world is reflected in the number of products flooding our shelves. While the increase in product variety and options is to be welcomed, our concern is that consumers are being duped or misled into buying products that are marketed as ‘natural’ and, therefore, perceived to be safe when in fact they may be either ineffective or harmful.”

Smith says the real issue is the common consumer misperception that ‘natural’ automatically qualifies a medicine as ‘safe’. “Almost every modern-day prescription medicine started off life as a ‘natural’ plant-based derivative. However, these medications have undergone a process involving rigorous modification, testing and clinical trials to ensure their safety. We seem to forget that there are numerous 100% natural substances that are in fact highly toxic. Take for example wild mushrooms: some are safe to eat and others are highly poisonous. The properties of a ‘safe’ natural substance can also turn toxic if taken in conjunction with certain substances or other medications.”

Smith is quick to emphasise that MNI is not arguing that complementary medicines are potentially harmful or that prescription medicines are the only effective treatment therapies. “It is not about prescription versus complementary medicine,” he says. “Many complementary medicines are highly effective and, equally, there have been numerous instances where prescription medicines have been recalled because they have proved ineffective or harmful. There is a place for both forms of medicine.”

In order to protect their health and wallets, consumers need to be far more discerning about the medicines they choose says Smith. “Patient safety is the number one priority and South Africans need to take charge of their health by becoming informed consumers.” When contemplating a complementary medicine, the first and most important step is to seek out evidence-based medicines and therapies. Evidence-based means the medicine has been properly tested and proven to work. “It doesn’t matter whether the medicine is prescription or complementary – make it a priority to find out what scientific studies have been done on the product’s safety and efficacy,” says Smith.

“Be wary of all advertising claims and make sure there is scientific evidence to back up claims, statements and personal stories. Question terms such as ‘scientific breakthrough’, ‘miracle cure’, ‘secret ingredient’ and ‘ancient remedy’. Avoid quick fixes and anything that sounds too good to be true (because it probably is!) and find out if the regulatory authorities have had anything to say about the medicine or any of its active ingredients.

“Lastly, remember that we all respond differently to treatments and some products may interact adversely with others. Be sure to discuss your findings with your doctor before you make a decision to take any medicine.”

References

1. Barnes PM, Bloom B, Nahin R. CDC National Health Statistics Report #12. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Among Adults and Children: United States, 2007. December 10, 2008 Kessler W, Goodkind M. (1998, September 23).
2. Americans mingle complementary techniques with traditional medicine. Stanford Online Report. Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/report/news/september23/altsurvey923.html