Why You Must Tell Your Doctor About Supplements and Herbal Remedies

It’s 2025. You’re taking turmeric for your knees, magnesium for sleep, and St. John’s wort for low mood. You think these are harmless, natural, and safe-so why tell your doctor? Maybe you’ve never been asked. Maybe you assume they don’t care. But here’s the truth: supplements aren’t harmless. And if you don’t tell your provider, you could be putting your health at real risk.

Most People Don’t Tell Their Doctors-And That’s Dangerous

A 2023 study found that only about one in three people who take herbal supplements or vitamins tell their doctor. Even among people with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure-those who are on multiple prescriptions-the rate is barely over 50%. That means nearly half of the people taking something that can change how their meds work are doing it in the dark.

Why? Because most patients believe supplements are “just natural.” They think if it’s from a plant, it can’t hurt. But turmeric can thin your blood. Garlic pills can interfere with HIV meds. Kava can damage your liver. And St. John’s wort? It can make your birth control useless, lower the effect of your antidepressants, or even cause serotonin syndrome when mixed with SSRIs.

Your doctor isn’t judging you. They’re trying to keep you safe.

Supplements Aren’t Regulated Like Medicines

Here’s something most people don’t know: the FDA doesn’t approve supplements before they hit the shelf. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) from 1994, companies can sell anything they want as long as they don’t claim it cures disease. That means a bottle labeled “Immunity Boost” might contain 10% of what it claims-or it might have a hidden drug ingredient that’s banned in other countries.

Labels say “Not evaluated by the FDA.” That’s not a marketing line-it’s a legal requirement. But most people skip right past it. The result? You’re taking something with unknown strength, unknown purity, and unknown interactions.

Your provider needs to know exactly what’s in what you’re taking. That’s why bringing the actual bottle to your appointment isn’t just helpful-it’s critical. Labels change. Ingredients shift. And without seeing the product, your doctor is guessing.

Herbs Can Act Like Prescription Drugs

Many herbal remedies work the same way as pharmaceuticals. They bind to receptors, affect liver enzymes, or alter how your body absorbs or breaks down other substances.

Take St. John’s wort again. It boosts a liver enzyme called CYP3A4. That enzyme breaks down over 50% of all prescription drugs. So if you’re on blood thinners like warfarin, antidepressants like sertraline, or even birth control pills-St. John’s wort can make them stop working. One study showed women on the pill who took this herb had a 30% higher chance of unintended pregnancy.

Ginkgo biloba? It can increase bleeding risk during surgery. Ginger? Can lower blood sugar too much if you’re on metformin. Licorice root? Raises blood pressure and messes with potassium levels.

These aren’t theoretical risks. They’re documented. Real people have had strokes, liver failure, and hospitalizations because their provider didn’t know they were taking something “natural.”

Your Doctor Might Not Ask-So You Have to Speak Up

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most doctors don’t ask about supplements. A 2021 survey found that only 27% of physicians felt confident enough to talk about them. Why? Because medical schools barely teach it. The average appointment is 15 minutes. They’re focused on your blood pressure, your cholesterol, your new pain.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t bring it up. In fact, research shows that when doctors ask directly-“What vitamins, herbs, or supplements are you taking right now?”-disclosure rates jump from 33% to 78%.

Don’t wait to be asked. Say it early. At the start of your visit. Say: “I’m taking a few supplements. I’d like to make sure they’re okay with my meds.” That simple sentence changes everything.

What to Say and How to Say It

You don’t need to be a scientist. Just be clear.

• “I take magnesium every night for sleep.”
• “I’ve been using ashwagandha for stress for six months.”
• “I got this turmeric capsule from the health food store-it’s called ‘Joint Ease’.”

Bring the bottles. Take a photo of the label if you forgot them. Write down the dose and how often you take it. If you’re unsure what’s in it, say so. Your provider doesn’t expect you to know the science-they just need the facts.

And if they seem dismissive? Push a little. Say: “I’ve read that some of these can interact with my blood pressure meds. I’d really like to know if it’s safe.”

Most providers will appreciate you being proactive. A 2022 survey found that 78% of patients who disclosed their supplement use said their provider gave them helpful advice. And 63% said it actually made them trust their doctor more.

What Happens When You Do Disclose?

When you tell your provider, three things usually happen:

1. They check for interactions with your current meds.
2. They might suggest a safer alternative.
3. They might tell you to stop something entirely.

One patient in Melbourne, who’d been taking high-dose vitamin D for years, was told by her GP that it was raising her calcium levels dangerously. She’d never had a blood test for it. Another man taking echinacea for colds was advised to stop-it was interfering with his transplant meds.

Disclosing doesn’t mean you have to quit everything. It means you get to make informed choices-with your doctor’s help.

The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters for Everyone

This isn’t just about you. It’s about the system. In the U.S., the supplement industry made over $55 billion in 2022. There are 85,000 products on the market. Most are sold without proof they work-and without proof they’re safe with other drugs.

And yet, 67% of Medicare beneficiaries take at least one supplement. That’s millions of people on multiple medications, with aging livers and kidneys, quietly mixing things that could cause serious harm.

The FDA is trying to catch up. They now list 172 ingredients with known safety concerns. Some states are requiring pharmacies to screen for supplement interactions. By 2026, electronic health records may include mandatory supplement fields.

But none of that matters if you don’t speak up.

Final Thought: You’re the Only One Who Can Protect Yourself

Your doctor can’t read your mind. They can’t see what’s in your medicine cabinet. They rely on you to tell them what you’re doing to your own body.

Supplements aren’t the enemy. But silence is.

Next time you walk into a clinic, don’t wait for them to ask. Say it first. Bring the bottle. Be honest. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being safe.

Because when it comes to your health, “natural” doesn’t mean “no risk.”