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Your health "Natural" does not always mean "safe" Although these organic dietary supplements may seem safer than conventional medicine, consumers need to be aware of the potential hazards. overall health. According to a National Heath Interview Survey, 38 percent of adults take vitamins, minerals and herbal remedies that are touted as "all natural." The Food and Drug Administration reg- ulations are less strict for alterna- M any people take comple- mentary and alternative medicine to improve their tive medicine than for prescription or over-the-counter drugs; a manu- facturer does not have to prove the safety and effectiveness of a dietary supplement before it is marketed. If you are thinking about or are using a dietary supplement, talk to your healthcare provider and consider these five points. "Natural" does not neces- sarily mean "safe" For example, the herbs comfrey and kava can cause serious harm to the liver. Also, when you see the term "standardized" (or "verified" or "certified") on the bottle, it does not necessarily guarantee product quality or consistency. Interactions are possible Some dietary supplements may interact with medications (prescrip- tion or over-the-counter) or other dietary supplements, and some may have side effects of their own. Research has shown that St. John's wort interacts with many medica- tions in ways that can interfere with their intended effects, includ- ing antidepressants, birth control pills, antiretrovials used to treat HIV infection, and others. Be aware of the potential for contamination Some supplements have been found to contain hidden prescrip- tion drugs or other compounds, par- ticularly in dietary supplements marked for weight loss, sexual health including erectile dysfunc- tion, and athletic performance or body-building. Take charge of your health by being an informed consumer The standards for marketing sup- plements are very different from the standards for drugs. For exam- ple, marketers of a supplement do not have to prove to the FDA that it is safe or that it works before it arrives on grocery store shelves. Find out what the scientific evi- dence says about the safety of a dietary supplement and whether it works. Visit nccam.nih.govfor more information. Talk to your health care providers Tell your health care providers about any complementary health products or practices you use, including dietary supplements. This will help them give a full pic- ture of what you are doing to man- age your health and will help ensure coordinated and safe care. Excerpted from www.nccam.nih. gov. Teaching isn't just a job, it's a calling. Graduate degrees in Education provide you with more career options in specialized areas of education. Wilmington University's NCATE-accredited programs build on your skills as an educator. You'll graduate with the credentials you need to stand out from the competition. Certification options are also available. Nicole Durkin M.Ed. in School Leadership, 1998 Ed.D. in Innovation and Leadership, 2005 Benefi t from WilmU's unsurpassed flexibility, with courses starting every eight weeks in formats that fit your life—including online options. REGISTER NOW! Classes start every eight weeks. STARTS HERE. www.dsea.org 1-877-456-7003 | wilmu.edu/DSEA May/June 2012 DSEA ACTION! 19 GRADUATE EDUCATION PROGRAMS Ed.D., Educational Leadership