Food As Medicine

An interesting discussion arose the other day regarding what determines whether a substance is classified as food or medicine. At one point or another all of us have encountered anecdotal evidence about how using certain foods can make us feel better when we're sick, help us get to sleep, or aid in digestion. I've always loved gardening and plants, and well, to be honest, eating for that matter, and so during my undergraduate studies I took a couple Botany classes in an effort to learn more about these amazing and tasty resources we had growing in my childhood garden. Frankly, I don't remember much from those days and so it's been a wonderful remembrance and learning experience to study Botanical Medicine as part of being a Naturopathic Doctor. Nature has gifted us with an entire medicine chest right outside our own back doors and to learn and re-learn what herbs and plants have specific medicinal properties has been a blessing. On top of that I get to finally bring something to the table for the backwoods outdoor adventures that I embark on with my siblings, instead of my usual heatstroke.


What makes something a food or a medicine?

According to the powers that be, aka the Natural Health Products Directorate (part of the Health Products and Food Branch of the government of Canada), it's really quite straightforward. In order for a food to be considered medicine a claim has to be stated surrounding it and evidence must be provided to support that claim.

What this means is that Ginger, for example, will not be listed in your local grocery store as being useful for counteracting nausea (antiemetic), aiding in digestion (bitter), stimulating the production of saliva (silagogue) cutting gas (carminative), soothing muscle spasms (antispasmodic), or decreasing inflammation (anti-inflammatory). You won't see this because at this time it's illegal to do so. The reason it's illegal is that the Ginger we buy in the grocery store does not pass through the same controls as the Ginger that is available as a supplement. Does this mean that if I buy Ginger from the grocer and take it home and use it to treat my nausea or help counteract the side-effects of chemotherapy that it won't work the same? Not necessarily. Not for Ginger. But in the world of Herbal Medicine things can get get tricky. Two plants can have the same name in different parts of the world and yet be completely different. One might be food, the other poison. In an effort to ensure the quality of the products that we as consumers are purchasing and in an attempt to avoid this type of confusion, all natural health products undergo the same scrutinizing as pharmaceuticals. The process to receive a license to make, market and sell a natural health product is the same process that pharmaceutical companies undergo when developing a new drug. Don't believe me? It's ok, I understand. There are a lot of naysayers out there when it comes to quality control of Natural Health Products and sometimes I agree with them. How do I know if what I'm taking for myself or prescribing for my patients is really truly what it says it is? Sometimes it's not. Sometimes corners are cut by unethical companies once they have received their license. Sometimes confusion happens when it comes to determining which genus and species of the plant is the one that's supposed to be used. Is this acceptable? No. Absolutely not. Does this happen within other types of companies such as pharmaceutical companies. Absolutely. The reality is that is happens with all products. The problem with Natural Products is often the under-reporting of side effects by consumers. The general public tends to have this assumption that if it's natural then it's safe. "I want natural!" we scream from our soapboxes. "I want natural" we chant, "because those synthetic, man made items are toxic! And evil! And are destroying my body, wrecking the flow of my Qi!" "Give me natural!", we insist, "because nature is safe, and perfect and better for me". But caution must be used because this type of thinking isn't always right. What it can be is dangerous.

I may not remember much from my Undergraduate Botany classes but the one thing that stuck with me was my professor's profound statement:

A DRUG IS A DRUG.

It doesn't matter if it's made in a laboratory or made in nature. A drug is a drug. Just because it's natural doesn't mean it can't kill you.
 
Remember Ginger our old friend? 
For most of the population it's perfectly safe and effective to use. However it can aggravate heartburn, and use caution if you're taking Anticoagulants (Blood thinners) or have a bleeding disorder as Ginger can enhance their action, or make a bleeding problem worse.

A little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing and used incorrectly a little pharmaceutical or a little herbal supplement can be deadly. So how do you know what's safe and what isn't? Really it's all about educating yourself and working with professionals. There are some great books out there that have excellent information in them or better yet go see your ND or a herbalist. Demand quality products from your natural supplement suppliers, and be sure to report any unexpected reactions or side effects. Be absolutely certain to tell your doctor what kinds of supplements you are taking and ask your pharmacist about possible interactions.

Most importantly respect the power of nature.

All my relations,
Mandy

Resources:

1. Godfrey A,Saunders PR, Barlow K, Gilbert C, Gowan M, Smith Fraser. Principles & Practices of Naturopathic   

    Botanical Medicine. Volume 1. Toronto, Ontario: CCNM Press; 2010.

2. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/branch-dirgen/hpfb-dgpsa/nhpd-dpsn/index-eng.php

3. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/branch-dirgen/hpfb-dgpsa/mhpd-dpsc/index-eng.php