WaPo Internist on Alt. Med., "Naturopathy" & Supplements

here, some commentary on sCAM type stuff and my musings:

001. at washingtonpost.com, internist Lucy McBride writes in "The Health Risks of Supplements and Alternative Medicine" (2019-09-07) [also at sciencealert.com]:

"a few weeks ago, a patient came to me complaining of nausea, muscle weakness and fatigue [...with] tea-colored [urine...] her lab tests revealed significant liver dysfunction. But her symptoms were not due to liver cancer, hepatitis or other disease [...] she had liver toxicity from a green tea supplement that she’d heard was a 'natural' way to lose weight [...] she stopped taking the supplement at my suggestion [and] her liver tests gradually normalized and she felt better over the course of a few weeks [...]";

though this is not unique in terms of the 'supplement harm', I think it is unique or rare[!] that the patient didn't need a new liver.

"particular patients seem to be more susceptible to the lure of 'naturopathic' medicine or homeopathy [...and] unproven and insufficiently regulated supplements and herbs [...] herbal and dietary supplements are not subject to the same strict regulatory standards as prescription drugs [...] I’ve seen the green tea issue in patients before and often witness the real-life pitfalls of eschewing traditional medicine, science and facts in favor of supplements, herbs and cleanses in the name of 'natural' healing [...] an important key to health is using nature appropriately [...] patients can easily become ensnared in the potential dangers of alternative medicine or homeopathy [...]";

hear, hear.  But I have to ask: what is "nature"?  It doesn't have a narrow definition.  And therein, it is in my view a rather useless though poetic category.  And homeopathy, LURING and ENSNARING!

"the key to helping my patient was pretty basic: looking at her lifestyle, her stress, and creating some structure and accountability for important lifestyle changes [...]";

by the way, these are the areas that alt. med. claims doctors know nothing about!

"let’s be clear: Nature has a lot to offer patients [...but] simply because a substance comes from nature does not mean it is good for us [...] my patients often consider herbal remedies to be free of side effects, but many 'natural' products can lead to toxicity and can dangerously interact with prescription medications [...]";

hear, hear.