Are Alternative Medicines Safe?

Posted June 30th, 2009.

Although we hear the question often enough, it isn’t even fair to ask if alternative medicines are safe. After all, they are not all the same any more than “standard” medicines are, and we do not ask if medicine is safe. We rightfully assume that some are safer than others and each needs to be looked at individually.

In any case, there is a double standard used when looking at medicines. Many prescription drugs are known to kill hundreds if not thousands of people, and yet that is simply seen as a justified risk. At the same time, if a natural cure or treatment for something every kills one or two people it is big news, complete with warnings telling the public not to use anything not prescribed by a doctor.