Page 108 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2017

HEALTHY LIVING supplements MEDICATIONS:
natural or manufactured?
story by Lynn Lofton
Organic products are growing in popularity across the country, and that includes medications. Are natural drugs as effective as manufactured drugs? Dr. Randy Roth, chief medical officer for Singing River Health System, and Dr. Jim Fox, owner of Doctor’s Nutrition in Gulfport, share some thoughts on the subject.
They agree that the use of these natural products is increasing. “Yes,
I would say we’re seeing an increase in patients choosing over-the-counter, natural medications, especially in areas such as probiotics, natural hormonal boosters and supplements,” Roth said.
“My wife and I started this business 20 years ago when natural medications were hard to find,” Fox said. “Now there is more research and information available and our business has grown exponentially.”
The effectiveness of these medications is a mixed bag. “Some natural supplements have proven
to be effective in small clinical
trials or some limited studies, but these types of supplements are not subject to the same rigor as Federal Drug Administration-regulated medications,” Roth said. “Prescription drugs must pass very rigorous review and testing protocols before they can be approved by the FDA for clinical use, whereas supplements have little if any regulation.”
Fox, who was a mechanical engineer before becoming a chiropractor, found that natural products relieved his migraine headaches. “I’ve seen a lot of success for other conditions too. Used with lifestyle modifications, these products are helping with obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.”
He adds that people have become more interested in taking care of themselves. “They look at the $3.8 trillion-per-year health care system
in the U.S. and yet that we rank number 42 in longevity in the world and realize our system is broken,” he said. “People are looking for answers, especially when their chronic diseases are not being taken care of. Our job
is to assist people in taking care of themselves.”
Roth stresses that consumers need
to be aware that readily available over-the-counter products and natural supplement are still medications
and can have harmful side effects
or damaging interactions with other drugs. “These types of medications can still be harmful, even if taken as directed so it’s always best to consult
your doctor before starting any new medication or supplement,” he said. Fox too says there can be harmful interactions. “We always must know
what people are taking. There can be interactions between natural and natural products too.”
Roth notes that any type of drug can be harmful if taken inappropriately or without clinical oversight. “Patients on blood thinners, for example, can run into problems even by adding ibuprofen to their regimen, which can cause intestinal bleeding,” he said. “St. John’s Wort, commonly taken
for depression, can interact with several other medications that are metabolized by a certain liver enzyme. Again, it’s always wise to consult a physician before starting any new medication.”
108 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2017
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Doctor’s Nutrition
721 Cowan Rd, Gulfport 228.897.0070
Singing River Health System
2809 Denny Ave, Pascagoula 228.809.5154