Legislation: Our legislators must review and modify how dietary supplements are defined, regulated, and promoted. It is unclear why some hormones (such as melatonin) are available over the counter while others require a prescription. Similarly, implied claims are made for many dietary supplements with questionable data. The double standard imposing strict marketing restrictions on prescription drugs but not dietary supplements must be acknowledged and eliminated.
The Media: The print and broadcast media are constantly presenting stories about "new and exciting" treatment approaches. Although this may be what their readers and viewers want, it is not necessarily responsible journalism. A story about "Zen crystal therapy" as an alternative treatment for autism or diabetes does not achieve "balance" simply by quoting a physician critical of this approach. The media should provide critical thinking and analysis as it handles these topics, just as it is starting to do with politicians' claims and campaign ads.
The Public: Patients need to become more informed and more discriminating consumers of health care. Schools and the media can help tremendously in this regard. Consumers must recognize that any substance taken in pill form for a specific benefit is essentially a medication, and that "natural" does not necessarily mean safe or effective. It is amazing that millions of people who take several pills each day to help their memory, energy level, attentiveness, or sexual or athletic performance would frown at the thought of taking "medication".
Health care providers: Greater dialogue between physicians and other health care providers is needed. One or more independent organizations should be established to determine which therapies are indeed effective and thus merit reimbursement. These determinations should not be left to providers or insurers alone. Professionals who promote unorthodox therapies of unproven value need to be held more accountable; therapies of questionable or limited proven value should be described as such, with patients giving prior written informed consent.
There will always be competition between conventional and alternative therapies — with the effective "alternative" therapies becoming the conventional ones as they gain national acceptance. At this time, the pendulum has swung too far in favor of alternative therapies. Patients and their families should remain primarily responsible for their own health care decisions, but there must be considerably more meaningful information available to facilitate responsible decision-making. Parents and professionals should not have to rely on Internet chat rooms and corporate advertising to determine which new therapies are safe and effective.
In 1911, President William H. Taft noted "there are none so credulous as sufferers from disease". With a myriad array of supplements, extracts and other alternative therapies now available, the public must be careful to avoid modern-day snake oil while searching for the next penicillin.
Dr. Andrew Adesman is chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children's Hospital in New Hyde Park, New York. His current research focuses on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and he is active in community outreach and parent/teacher education about ADHD.
