Some people who buy natural products may think they are less expensive but that may not be true. For example, you could pay $60 for a bottle of glucosamine, which is still being tested for its anti-inflammatory benefits, for about the same price as you would for some prescription antiinflammatory drugs. Even cheaper, of course, would be a bottle of aspirin or other over-the-counter drug in this category as long as your doctor says it will work safely with your other medications.

You should be concerned about possible interactions with your current medication before you begin taking a new “natural” product. For instance, St. John’s Wort is said to fight depression but it can interact with a number of medicines, including other antidepressants and the blood-thinner, Coumadin. Thus, it is vitally important that you discuss its addition to your medical regimen with your physician.

At Fox Run, our Centricity electronic medical records system enables us to check all medications and many natural supplements that a resident and his or her doctor may consider. It is a major advantage since no physician can remember the myriad of potential interactions that may exist. Many pharmacies have computer systems that match drugs with herbal remedies and alert for dangers. I urge you to ask them for advice before you buy something.

Unfortunately, the lack of regulation in the manufacture and sale of natural products make it very difficult to find those that deliver what they promise safely. Here are a few suggestions that I strongly urge you to consider:

1. Don’t buy a natural substance just because you have seen an interesting article or infomercial.
2. Find out if the product has been tested thoroughly by an objective outside source like a major medical center, instead of just the manufacturer’s lab.
3. Buy supplements only from well-known manufacturers. This is not a guarantee, but it will improve your chance for quality.
4. Look for the “USP” label from U.S. Pharmacopeia, an independent testing organization. It is difficult to find but a few products have it. Check USP’s web site, www.uspverified. org, for information or call them at 1-800-277-8772.

Above all, remember that neither your doctor nor pharmacist can advise you if they don’t know all the drug therapies you are taking—prescriptions, over-the-counter, and natural substances. Any that you may add to that list could set off a serious interaction.

People living at Fox Run truly benefit from our advanced diagnostic and treatment programs. We are very well equipped to determine the efficacy of over-the-counter supplements, particularly as they relate to medications that our people may already be taking. At Fox Run, being concerned about our residents’ use of natural supplements is just one more way the Erickson HealthSM team watches over them.