Self Supplementing With Underwhelming Results?

Self-Supplementing With Underwhelming Results?

Are you one who regularly finds yourself perusing the supplement section of your local health food store looking for the THING to fix your THING.  Fish oil for the skin, probiotics for gut, collagen for better hair, echinacea for your cold, or maybe some chamomile for your sleep. You try all the things, but they don’t seem to provide any noticeable results… 

I chat with far to many people who tell me they want to tackle their health with natural medicine BUT everything they’ve tried has been underwhelming. If you relate to that statement, you’re in the right spot! 

There can be a misconception out there that “alternative” medicine is weak or ineffective. I put alternative in quotes because that also implies that anything outside of our current system is only adjunct or complementary when there are full-fleshed medical systems serving billions of people in the world that don’t use drugs. There’s a long and controversial history of how herbalism became an ‘alternative,’ but that, my friends, is a tale for another day.

So back to the problem at hand… Self-supplementing (with supplements or herbs) with underwhelming results… Leaving you underserved and disappointed.

Why your Self-Supplementing is underwhelming:

There are a few different potential reasons we’re going to explore, since every person is beautifully unique. I can’t say for certain what category you fall under, maybe it’s even a combination of things. But I can tell you for certain, herbs and supplements can be profoundly effective. So don’t give up just yet!

Ninety-eight percent of herb and supplement use in the United States is “self” prescribed. That means only 2% of the population takes the time and energy to work with a trained and skilled professional. The world of alternative medicine is wide and vast, and while it’s accessible to people (which is one of its strengths), there are a lot of nuances one is not aware of without training.

Pitfall #1: Inadequate Dosing

We’re starting here because it’s all too common. Many manufacturers of herbs and supplements give extremely low dosing guidelines as a “CYA” approach. If one follows these guidelines, they’re most likely underdosing. Dosing herbs is an art, not a science. Think about two people both buying the same bottle of Echinacea. One is a 150 lb female, the other a 250 lb man. Do you think their dose should be the same? Probably not, and the bottle doesn’t account for this. It also doesn’t account for the nuances of whatever it is you’re treating. Is this an acute issue or for long-term maintenance? Is this a low dose herb or a higher dose herb? There are many factors that go into dosing; it’s a complex (perhaps the most complex part of herbalism). Other considerations include, is this the whole plant or an extract? A formula or a single herb.

Underdosing is a common issue. While underdosing certainly won’t hurt, results could be much slower or even non existent,  leaving you wanting more! 

Pitfall #2: Taking the Wrong Thing for the Wrong Situation

Pitfall number 2 is something I myself have fallen victim to many times. It’s taking the wrong thing for my situation or me. Herbalism and supplementation and health, in general, are not as simple as take X for Y. Example: If you have a cold, take Cherry Bark. That sounds nice, but it again erases the nuances that make the world of herbalism so beautiful and so effective. We are all unique, which means even our colds are unique. While there are some general things that will probably benefit most people in most situations, taking this for that doesn’t usually prove to be effective. The “This” for “That” approach is ineffective. 

Any GREAT Herbalist will use some sort of energetic system to help figure out what is right for YOU in this particular situation. This involves understanding not just that there is a cold but understanding who has the cold and what the characteristics of the cold are. Is it wet or dry? Hot or cold? Productive or unproductive? These questions MATTER when selecting the right herbs for the situation. 

It’s also important to note that people are so bio-individual; sometimes it takes some exploration to find what works for that person, working with a professional can help make this process much more effective. 

Pitfall #3: The X for Y Thinking

Sometimes we fall into the trap of boiling down our very complex health situations into that “take this for that” thinking I mentioned above. Maybe you have cystic acne, and you hear that vitamin E is good for acne. You start taking vitamin E with no visible results. While it’s true Vitamin E is good for acne and skin, your situation is far more complex than a vitamin E deficiency. There is likely other work that needs to be done to help address your specific case.

The plug-and-play sounds nice in theory, but in practice, it’s not that simple. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, we are unique and complex beings!

Pitfall #4: Ignoring the Uniqueness that is YOU

I’ve already mentioned this in both pitfalls 2 & 3, but I think it deserves its own recognition. You are unique; your ‘alternative’ protocol should be too. Two people can walk in my door with the same symptom: Let’s say migraines and have the migraines for completely different reasons requiring completely different approaches. This is often not understood or overlooked when self-supplementing.

Pitfall #5: Poor quality herbs/supplements

Quality counts when it comes to your herbs and supplements. This is an important consideration. There are two factors here: one, the quality of the herb. Was it harvested at the correct time? Was it processed correctly? How fresh or not fresh is it?

But it also includes making sure that you are using the herb in the correct form. Maybe you want to start taking Ashwagandha for your anxiety, and you get it in a tincture form (This is when the herb is extracted in an alcohol solution). You take it for a month with no noticeable effects. Ashwagandha, although sold in a tincture, isn’t alcohol-soluble. The active constituents don’t extract in alcohol. There are a lot of people who are capitalizing on the herb and supplement boom without truly understanding the beauty and uniqueness of the plants they are working with. We are now seeing incorrect preparations of many herbs. I always say when in doubt, look to the traditional preparations. (Which is why I down my Ashwagandha in water).

Pitfall #6: Unrealistic Expectations

While herbalism absolutely is profoundly effective, many people may underestimate the time it takes to work. Herbalism is different than conventional practices in the sense that you are more involved with your health. Maybe you have to diligently brew a cup of tea and drink it every day; that’s a bit more work than taking a drug. People have become used to the drug effects, quick action, and STRONG. Herbs work differently. They assist your body in coming back into balance instead of bullying it. (Although sometimes in extreme situations, we have to do a little bullying too).

That being said, there are a lot of overreaching promises out there as people are advertising new herbs and supplements. Always remember, it took you a LONG time to arrive at this health destination; it’s going to take some time and effort to come back to balance.

Now that doesn’t mean that you have to suffer your way through; there are many ways herbalists can ease the journey for you and your body.

 

How to use alternative medicine EFFECTIVELY

Continue exploring, of course! Don’t give up on your herbs and supplements; instead, find new approaches to this world. Work with a professional (highly highly recommend! And yes i’m bias) , reference a trusted herb book (written by someone with clinical experience, not based on theory). If you want to go ‘alternative” but are worried it’s not working, you’re not alone. Take a deep breath, regroup, and make a tweak.

Herbs are amazing, and it’s empowering that they are accessible, but this comes with the side effect of misappropriated use. It can be life-changing and empowering to get some guidance if you truly are looking for a new path to resolution. One that puts you in a seat of empowerment and isn’t drug-based.

May your journey to health be filled with all the plants. 

Namaste,