A 2008 Study revealed that 38% of adults in the United States utilized alternatives to conventional medicine. The supplement industry alone brings in almost $61 billion dollars a year in the US. If so many people are taking supplements than how are there such little regulations? Currently, no organization or agency regulates the manufacture or certifies the labeling of herbal preparations. So, this means that when your shopping for a supplement you can't be sure of the actual amount contained in the bottle, the dose, or the statements on the label.
A recent Canadian Study tested 44 bottles of supplements from 12 companies and found that the ingredients were diluted, replaced, or had fillers like wheat and rice. There are also many issues with the integration of the evidence based model because the supplements used are not of clinical grade or the structure is flawed.
How do we support natural medicine and all CAM treatments within the current medical model?
1. Focus on food: remember that supplements were never intended to replace or replicate the nutrients derived from whole foods
2. See a trained naturopathic physician to evaluate your health and make sure you are prescribed the appropriate clinical grade treatments while ruling out any possible interactions.
3. Get active: exercise is free and has profound effects on your health
Sources:
http://nccam.nih.gov/news/camstats/2007/camsurvery_fs1.htm
http://nccam.nih.gob/health/supplements/wiseuse.htm?lang=en
http://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/5/12/5161
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20650954?dopt=Citation