1. Why Do People Want Them?
Observational studies and research based studies have shown that occasionally cancer patients give up on conventional methods and their side effects and opt for herbal supplements, thinking they are harmless. Sometimes these supplements are given through alternative medicine clinicians and cancer patients feel they are treated as a whole person and not treated just for their disease. Herbal or botanical supplements also represent a holistic approach to treating the disease.
2. Definition of Dietary Supplement
According to The National Institute of Health, a dietary supplement is a product which has more than one of the following attributes:
1. It is a product to increase total dietary intake.
2. It is a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or an amino acid.
3. It is made from different forms of vitamin, mineral, herb or amino acids
4. It can be taken by mouth in the form of a capsule, gel cap or powder and it is not represented as a conventional food.
People who supplement their diet with these supplements also need to know that dietary supplements are exempt from Food and Drug Administration's regulation and therefore can vary in their efficacy and potency. European markets do have some regulations and the products from that market are by and large standardized.
3. Selection
If you are taking a dietary supplement for truly increasing your energy and protein intake, you should read labels for nutritional information. This will allow you to choose an appropriate supplement to meet your energy needs. There are a lot of selections available in the market with varied taste and varied claims. Discuss with your dietitian as to which one will serve you the best for your present situation.
If you are taking an herbal supplement, remember the definition. Be very cautious with product selection and amounts taken. You definitely want to avoid megadoses since they may interact with your other medications, including chemo agents.
The preferred selection process is to try to find some scientific information from reputable resources like The American Botanical Council or The Office of Dietary Supplement at the National Institute of Health. You can also ask your healthcare team as they may know of further resources and determine drug interactions.
4. What Do They Do For You?
In some cases herbal supplements may act as the medicines for fighting your disease. In other cases they may increase the efficacy of other medications that you are on. Sometime they increase your energy. Every supplement has a different health claim and therefore it needs to be researched prior to intake.
5. Patient's Responsibility
There is a safety factor that should not be missed when opting for alternate medicines and herbal supplements. One must research efficacy of the product, its intervention with routine medicines and any diet adjustments. Alternate interventions might occasionally exclude a food group in its entirety, and therefore would not meet daily nutritional needs.
