It is very important and vital to be concerned with Complementary and Alternative Medicine Drug interactions!

It's easy to see that many different medications, supplements, and herbs fall into different categories. It's important to note those specific categories and to be aware of them. This is a very useful shortcut.

It can even be seen and noticed from the specific names of medications. Some well known category examples would be, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, antibiotics, NSAIDs, etc.

As soon as I know and notice the type of medication I am dealing with, I can the start at that point and go from there regarding the general interactions, and then from the general, get more specific. Such as selective versus non selective beta blockers for example.

In looking up medications and other such stuff on the Internet, I noticed that in some cases there are many and various types of interactions. Not all are listed in each place or resource.

Much more research is being done all the time and there are many resources out there to be tapped into in order to clarify specific medications and their interactions.

The many resources out there are available for patients and practitioners and they are worth having close at hand and checking out.

• The online ADAM Health / Medical Encyclopedia,
• the drug index and interactions checker at the Drugs site online
• as well as the drug reference at Roper St. Francis Healthcare

are great examples of resources that should be put to good use when needing to take medications and / or supplements, or when dealing with patients who already are.

There is a list of even more resources at

• ProHealth in their Library under Latest News and Research

It's not only the combinations between different drugs, herbs, and supplements that are potentially helpful or harmful. Often mentioned side effects and interactions, are specific to taking medications along with more natural remedies, and we must be aware, that in and of themselves, either drugs, or herbs / supplements / vitamins have allergies, reactions, and interactions associated with themselves, or may be specific to the person involved.

Some examples would be people allergic to aspirin, penicillin, or sulfur for example (MSM a popular supplement is sulfur based).

We must try to be as aware as possible when dealing with ourselves and our patients. Even things such as Tofu and its influence on hormones through phytoestrogens in men versus women, must be at the forefront of our knowledge in order to give the best healthcare possible, while being cautious and safe at the same time.

This is paramount, as safety is first. When looking up drugs and substances and monitoring blood levels is mentioned time after time regarding calcium, sodium, potassium and many other substances and minerals, there is good reason for this.

The body is a sensitive human being that maintains balance and homeostasis. If we know how to deal with it and its specific mechanisms, we then can know how to treat and help heal it. Otherwise G-d forbid, it can be dangerous and even fatal.

We can either help and be to it an elixir of life, or poison and death. And it makes no difference whether we are dealing with (synthetic) medications, or more natural herbs, supplements, and vitamins. The balance is ever so sensitive and precarious.

When looking up information regarding a drug, herb, or substance, for me personally it's just a primer. It's paramount to have a good resource to look up close by and to consult with them often, but in reality when dealing with certain situations and patients, I would have to take it a step further and consult with other detailed resources as well, in order to be sure that I am on the right track and doing things correctly.

Looking up information about drugs, herbs, supplements, etc. is very practical and plain useful to all, whether a lay person or practitioner. We are so inundated with the different medications, vitamins, supplements, and herbs around us, that it is absolutely vital and necessary to be up to date and in the loop as to what's going on with them, and how they work.

Even those people who are in actuality more natural and only treat themselves with natural food and food therapy need to know about the different substances found in foods, and how they interact and react in the body.

Wake up and be aware!