Author: New West Wellness Centre

More than half of Canadians use natural health products. Perhaps you are taking on now. When used properly, these products can play a role in getting and keeping you well. But natural health products are not risk-free. Learning how to use these products safely can be important to your health.

Find out if you are using a natural health product

Natural health products are naturally occurring substances that may improve or maintain your health. They are made from plants, animals, microorganisms or resources from the ocean. Natural health products, also called “complementary” or “alternative” medicines, include:

•  Vitamins and minerals
• Herbal, traditional and homeopathic medicines
• Probiotics and enzymes
• Essential fatty acids such as omega-3

Find out from your pharmacist if you are currently using a natural health product.

“Natural” may not mean safe

Any substance, whether natural or man-made, that has an effect on the body, has the potential to be a risk to your health. Natural health products are considered drugs and even if the product is labelled as “natural,” it does not always mean it is safe. In fact, about 12% of Canadians have reported side effects with these medicines. While many people use natural health products without issues, these products can still have risks, including:

• Taking the wrong dosage
• Unproven claims, which can lead people to use the wrong products for serious conditions or put off getting proper medical treatment
• Lack of warnings on the label about who should avoid the product
• Interaction with prescription medicines or other natural health products
• Side effects, like allergic reactions

Learn how to use them safely

You can reduce your risk of unwanted effects and ensure you get the right natural health product by following these tips:

• Tell your doctor and pharmacist everything you are taking, and why, to help prevent drug interactions.
• Talk to your pharmacist before choosing a product, especially if you are pregnant, breast-feeding, over 65 years of age, have a serious medical condition or are buying the product for your child.
• Only use Health Canada approved products.
• Avoid products that make claims that seem too good to be true. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a recommendation regarding the condition you are trying to treat.
• Read and follow all instructions on the product label.
• Report any side effects to your doctor or pharmacist.

Canadians use natural health products to prevent or treat an illness, reduce health risks or maintain good health. If you are using or thinking about using a natural health product, ask for help. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you choose the right product and minimize your risks.

Article from The Costco Connection, March 2016 Edition

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Insufficient sleep is associated with a number of chronic diseases and conditions— such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and depression—which threaten our nation’s health. Notably, insufficient sleep is associated with the onset of these diseases and also poses important implications for their management and outcome.”

Some Recent Research: Low Back Pain and Fatigue

Some recent research is helping shed light on how massage therapy can be used to help people who have difficulty sleeping. One study of how massage therapy can benefit people with lower back pain and sleep disturbances found that the massage therapy group experienced less pain, depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance when compared to the group using only relaxation therapy.

This study comprised 30 adults with low back pain with a duration of at least six months. Randomly assigned to either massage therapy or relaxation therapy, each group had 30-minute sessions, twice a week for five weeks. On the first and last day of the five-week study, participants completed questionnaires and were assessed for range of motion. Along with the benefits for depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance, the massage therapy group also showed improved trunk and pain flexion performance.

A 2010 study investigated the effects of massage therapy for sleep quality on patients who had coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The study evaluated whether massage therapy would be effective in improving sleep quality in patients.

The 40 participants of the study were randomly assigned to a control group or massage therapy group following discharge from the intensive care unit. For three nights, the massage therapy group received massage while the control group did not. The patients were evaluated the following morning using a visual analogue scale for pain in the chest, back and shoulders, as well as fatigue and sleep.

Interestingly, pain in the chest, shoulders and back decreased significantly for both groups from day 1 to day 3. The participants in the massage therapy group, however, had fewer complaints of fatigue on day 1 and day 2, as well as reporting a more effective sleep during all three days.

References

Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Diego, M., Fraser, M. (2007). Lower back pain and sleep disturbances are reduced following massage therapy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 11(2) 141–145.

Nerbass, F.B., Feltrim, M.I., Souza, S.A., Ykeda, D.S., Lorenzi-Fiho, G. (2010). Effects of massage therapy on sleep quality after coronary artery bypass graft surger. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 65(11): 1105–10.

1. Relieve stress
2. Relieve postoperative pain
3. Reduce anxiety
4. Manage low-back pain
5. Help fibromyalgia pain
6. Reduce muscle tension
7. Enhance exercise performance
8. Relieve tension headaches
9. Sleep better
10. Ease symptoms of depression
11. Improve cardiovascular health
12. Reduce pain of osteoarthritis
13. Decrease stress in cancer patients
14. Improve balance in older adults
15. Decrease rheumatoid arthritis pain
16. Temper effects of dementia
17. Promote relaxation
18. Lower blood pressure
19. Decrease symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
20. Help chronic neck pain
21. Lower joint replacement pain
22. Increase range of motion
23. Decrease migraine frequency
24. Improve quality of life in hospice care
25. Reduce chemotherapy-related nausea