In Canada, the term "natural health products" (NHPs) describes herbs
and other supplements, because they are therapeutic or medicinal products that
can come from natural sources. Some NHPs are well-known products, such as:
A wide variety of other substances are also considered NHPs. They are harder to
put into categories like the ones above, but they also come from plants, animals
and minerals, fungi and micro-organisms. Some examples include:
The Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) is responsible for Canada's
natural health products regulations, which became law in January 2004. The safety
and effectiveness of NHPs are an important concern for the NHPD and for consumers.
In a 2005 NHPD survey, 71 percent of the Canadians who answered said they regularly
take NHPs. Seventy-seven percent said they use natural health products to maintain
and promote health, and 68 percent said they use NHPs to treat illness.
What are NHPs used for?
NHPs are used to treat a wide range of conditions. They can be taken by mouth
or applied to the body. They are sold in many different forms:
- raw herbs and teas
- salves and creams
- liquid extracts
- tablets or capsules.
Herbs and dietary supplements are the most popular form of complementary and alternative
health care in North America.
Natural does not mean safe
If they're used properly, NHPs can play in important role in the way people manage
their own health, but it's important to keep that role in perspective. Half
of the people surveyed for the NHPD in 2005 said they believe NHPs are safe because
they are made of natural ingredients. But natural doesn't necessarily mean
safe. Like drugs, NHPs can have serious side effects.
Any natural or synthetic substance that has an effect on the body can potentially
be harmful. Children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, seniors, people with serious
diseases, and people who are scheduled for an operation are the most likely to
experience side effects when using NHPs.
NHPs may also interact with other medications, even non-prescription drugs
such as aspirin. This is why it is important to tell your doctor about
any NHPs you are taking.
Before starting to take an NHP, it is important that you know:
- what it's used for
- what the expected effects are
- if there any known side effects
- when should it be used and when it shouldn't be used
- what amount is right for you.
If you are thinking about using a natural health product (NHP), talk
to a health professional or an NHP specialist. It is especially important
to talk to your doctor about taking an NHP if you:
- already have a health problem, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol
- are taking other medications.
Not all health professionals are well-informed about NHPs, but your doctor or
pharmacist should be able to check to make sure a product won't interact with
your other medications or cause any negative effects. Many qualified complementary
and alternative practitioners, such as Naturopathic Doctors, have expertise in
NHPs and can also give you this information.
Note: Anyone thinking about using complementary or alternative therapies should
try to talk about it with their family physician or specialist. Natural health
practitioners should be kept informed, too.
Everyone who gives health care advice to consumers should have a complete picture
of the person's health, and the treatments or therapies he or she is using.
Additional resources
Advisories, Warnings, Information Updates and Foreign Product Alerts
– Health Canada
Glossary
of terms
CAM Health Information – U.S. National Center for Complementary
and Alternative Medicine
Drugs and Health Products: Frequently Asked Questions –
Health Canada
HerbMed – Alternative Medicine Foundation
Tips for Older Dietary Supplement Users – US Food and
Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
References
Health Canada, Safe Use of Natural Health Products
Ipsos Reid/Health Canada. Baseline Natural Health Products Survey Among Consumers,
March 2005.
U.S. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Dietary and
Herbal Supplements
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