Complementary Medicines: Why Your Grand Rapids Healthcare Team Needs to Know

Complementary medicines are widely used in Grand Rapids and across Michigan, but many people don’t tell their doctors, nurses, or pharmacists about them. This can be risky, especially if you’re also taking prescription or over‑the‑counter medicines or receiving treatment at local hospitals like Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, or Mercy Health.

This guide explains what complementary medicines are, how they can interact with your other treatments, and why it’s important to discuss them with your Grand Rapids healthcare professionals.

What Are Complementary Medicines?

Complementary medicines (often called “natural” or “alternative” therapies) include:

  • Vitamins and minerals
  • Herbal medicines and teas
  • Essential oils and aromatherapy products
  • Homeopathic remedies
  • Traditional medicines (for example, Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurvedic products)
  • Nutritional and sports supplements
  • Some over‑the‑counter “immune boosters” or “detox” products

Many people in West Michigan use these products to:

  • Support general health and wellness
  • Boost immunity during cold Grand Rapids winters
  • Help with stress, anxiety, or sleep
  • Manage joint pain, allergies, or digestive issues

Because they are often marketed as “natural,” people may assume they are always safe. This is not always the case.

Natural Does Not Always Mean Safe

Even if a product comes from a plant or “natural” source, it can still:

  • Cause allergic reactions
  • Trigger asthma or hay fever (especially in people sensitive to plants like ragweed or Asteraceae family plants)
  • Interact with prescription medicines
  • Cause side effects on its own
  • Be unsafe for pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, or older adults

Many complementary medicines are manufactured in ways similar to conventional medicines and can have strong effects on the body. In a city like Grand Rapids, where many residents manage chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease, these interactions can be especially important.

Why Your Grand Rapids Healthcare Professionals Need to Know

Your entire healthcare team—your primary care doctor, specialists at Spectrum Health or Trinity Health, pharmacists, and nurses—needs a complete picture of everything you take, including:

  • Prescription medicines
  • Over‑the‑counter medicines (like ibuprofen, cold and flu tablets)
  • Complementary medicines and supplements
  • Herbal teas or tinctures you use regularly
  • Essential oils you apply to the skin or take by mouth

They need this information to:

  • Check for dangerous interactions
  • Adjust doses of your prescription medicines if needed
  • Decide if a complementary medicine is safe for your specific health conditions
  • Protect you before surgery, procedures, or medical tests

About half of people who use complementary medicines never tell their healthcare providers. This can put your health at risk, especially if you receive care at multiple locations around Grand Rapids (for example, a family doctor in Kentwood and a specialist at Metro Health).

Common Interactions Between Complementary and Prescription Medicines

Complementary medicines can:

  • Reduce the effectiveness of prescription medicines
  • Increase the effect of some medicines and raise the risk of side effects
  • Change how quickly your liver or kidneys clear medicines from your body

Examples of Risky Interactions

These are some well‑known interactions that can affect patients in Grand Rapids and beyond:

  • St John’s Wort

    • Can reduce the effectiveness of many prescription and over‑the‑counter medicines, including:
      • Blood pressure and heart medicines
      • Some cancer treatments
      • HIV medicines
      • Antidepressants and anti‑anxiety medicines
      • Some birth control pills

  • Ginkgo biloba

    • May increase the risk of bleeding in people taking blood thinners such as warfarin
    • May also reduce the effectiveness of:
      • Some anesthetics
      • Immunosuppressant medicines (for example, after an organ transplant)
      • Some oral contraceptives

  • Ginseng

    • May decrease the effectiveness of several medicines
    • Can affect blood sugar levels, which is important for people with diabetes—a common condition in Michigan

  • Echinacea

    • Has been linked to side effects such as:
      • Abdominal pain
      • Swelling
      • Shortness of breath
      • Nausea
      • Itchy skin, rash, redness, and hives
    • May interact with some antipsychotic or antidepressant medicines

  • Goldenseal

    • Can interact with many medicines by affecting how your liver processes drugs

Because many Grand Rapids residents take medicines for heart disease, blood pressure, diabetes, depression, or autoimmune conditions, these interactions are especially important to review with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cancer Treatment and Complementary Medicines in Grand Rapids

If you are receiving cancer care at local centers such as Spectrum Health Cancer Center, Trinity Health Lacks Cancer Center, or other oncology clinics in West Michigan, complementary medicines can:

  • Interfere with chemotherapy or radiation
  • Change how your body breaks down cancer drugs
  • Increase side effects or reduce treatment effectiveness

Before starting or continuing any complementary medicine during cancer treatment, always talk to your:

  • Oncologist
  • Cancer nurse
  • Pharmacist at your cancer center

Bring a list—or better yet, bring the actual products—to your appointment.

Side Effects From How Complementary Medicines Are Used

Sometimes the side effect is caused by the way the product is used, not just the product itself.

For example:

  • A person on blood thinners (such as warfarin) who receives a deep tissue or vigorous massage with essential oils may develop significant bruising.
    • In this case, the massage pressure, not necessarily the oil, is the main cause.

Always tell your massage therapist, chiropractor, or complementary therapist in Grand Rapids if you are taking blood thinners or other important medicines.

What to Tell Your Healthcare Professionals

When you visit your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist in Grand Rapids, tell them clearly about all complementary medicines you use. Include:

  • Type and name of the product
    • Use the botanical (Latin) names for herbal medicines and essential oils if possible to avoid confusion with common names.
  • Dose and how often you take it
    • For example, “500 mg twice a day” or “10 drops under the tongue at bedtime.”
  • How long you have been taking it
  • Why you are taking it
    • For example, “for joint pain,” “for sleep,” or “to boost my immune system in winter.”
  • Any benefits or side effects you have noticed

Also tell your healthcare team about:

  • Any recent changes to your complementary medicines (starting, stopping, or changing doses)
  • Any products bought online or from other countries, as these may not meet U.S. quality and safety standards

If Your Healthcare Professional Advises You to Stop

If your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist in Grand Rapids recommends that you stop a complementary medicine, ask:

“Can you explain why this product is not safe or recommended for me?”

Common medical reasons may include:

  • High risk of interaction with your prescription medicines
  • Increased risk of bleeding, liver damage, or kidney problems
  • Reduced effectiveness of important treatments (for example, cancer therapy or heart medicines)
  • Safety concerns in pregnancy, breastfeeding, childhood, or older age

This does not mean they are “against” all complementary medicines. Many Grand Rapids clinicians are open to integrative approaches, but their first priority is your safety.

Why Many People Don’t Mention Complementary Medicines

People in Grand Rapids and across Michigan often don’t tell their healthcare professionals about complementary medicine use because they:

  • Assume “natural” means always safe
  • Think their doctor or nurse “won’t know anything” about these products
  • Worry that their healthcare professional will be judgmental or negative
  • Were not directly asked about supplements or herbal products

However, not sharing this information can delay diagnosis, interfere with treatment, and put your health at risk—especially if you have chronic conditions common in West Michigan, like high blood pressure, heart disease, or diabetes.

When You Should Always Check Before Using Complementary Medicines

It is strongly recommended that you talk to your Grand Rapids healthcare professional before starting complementary medicines if you are:

  • Pregnant or intending to become pregnant
  • Breastfeeding
  • Scheduled for surgery or medical procedures (for example, endoscopy, colonoscopy, or major dental work)
  • An older adult, especially if you take multiple medicines
  • A parent or caregiver considering complementary medicines for a child
  • Diagnosed with a serious disease, or have had one in the past (such as cancer, heart disease, kidney or liver disease, or autoimmune disorders)

Your doctor may advise you to stop some complementary medicines days or weeks before surgery or certain tests to reduce the risk of:

  • Bleeding
  • Blood pressure changes
  • Interference with anesthesia
  • Unreliable test results

Always follow the instructions given by your surgeon, anesthesiologist, or specialist at your Grand Rapids hospital or clinic.

Choosing Complementary Medicines Safely

If you decide to buy complementary medicines over the counter in Grand Rapids (at pharmacies, health food stores, or online):

  • Buy from reputable sources, such as established pharmacies and well‑known local retailers
  • Read the label carefully, including:
    • Active ingredients
    • Dose instructions
    • Warnings and possible side effects
  • Avoid products that:
    • Make unrealistic or “miracle cure” claims
    • Do not list ingredients clearly
    • Are sold only online with limited company information

Be especially cautious with products purchased over the internet or from outside the United States, as they may:

  • Not meet U.S. safety or quality standards
  • Be contaminated or adulterated
  • Contain prescription‑strength ingredients not listed on the label

For safe, evidence‑based advice, consider speaking with a registered health practitioner such as a licensed naturopath, integrative medicine physician, or pharmacist who is knowledgeable about complementary medicines.

Local Grand Rapids Resources and Support

If you live in Grand Rapids or the surrounding Kent County area, you can:

  • Talk to your primary care doctor or family physician

    • Many practices are affiliated with Corewell Health (Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – U of M Health, or Mercy Health.

  • Consult your pharmacist

    • Pharmacists at local pharmacies (Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, SpartanNash stores, independent pharmacies) can check for interactions between your prescriptions and complementary medicines.

  • Contact local public health services

    • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health can provide information and referrals for safe medication use and chronic disease management.

  • Ask specialist nurses

    • Diabetes educators, cancer nurses, and other specialist nurses at Grand Rapids hospitals can help review your complementary medicine use in the context of your condition.

In an emergency, always call 911.

For non‑emergency medical advice, many local health systems offer nurse advice lines and virtual visits, especially helpful during severe winter weather or when travel is difficult.

Key Points to Remember

  • Always tell all your healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists) in Grand Rapids about any complementary medicines you are taking.
  • Complementary medicines can interact with prescription medicines, over‑the‑counter drugs, alcohol, and other supplements, sometimes in dangerous ways.
  • Some complementary medicines can interfere with cancer treatments, heart medicines, HIV medicines, antidepressants, and blood thinners like warfarin.
  • Ginkgo biloba may increase the risk of bleeding in people taking warfarin and may reduce the effectiveness of some other medicines.
  • Side effects can be caused by the product itself or by how it is used (for example, deep massage in someone on blood thinners).
  • Always check with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any complementary medicine, especially if you live with chronic illness or are scheduled for surgery or tests.
  • Avoid self‑prescribing, particularly for serious conditions common in Michigan, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

By keeping your Grand Rapids healthcare team fully informed, you can safely integrate complementary medicines—when appropriate—into your overall treatment plan while protecting your health.