In recent years, the consumption of natural products, particularly those derived from plants, has increased significantly. According to a survey of the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers’ Association of Canada (NPDMC), the percentage of Canadians who have used medicinal plants at least once almost has almost doubled in eight years, from 15% in 1996 to nearly 26 % in 2004.

Natural health products can be highly beneficial, but should nonetheless be used with caution. As you have seen in reading this guide, they are not all harmless and are sometimes contraindicated. They can also interact with certain medications and with each other. For all these reasons, we recommend that you be as well-informed as possible before you take any of these products. Talk to your doctor and your pharmacist, respect the dosage and cease consumption immediately if any unusual symptoms appear. Finally, it is important to return any natural health products that have reached their expiry date to the pharmacy. Among other things, this helps protect the environment.

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