Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice - Clinical Guidance on Supplements & Integrative Therapies

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and with about 40 million people in the US living with diabetes, many of your patients are likely taking supplements too. Are you asking about everything they take, including cold remedies?In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford, Andrea Stafford, and Kelly Daniels answer important questions about supplements in patients with diabetes. They cover which supplements have evidence for glycemic control, and which ones can raise blood glucose, increase the risk of hypoglycemia, or even throw off a glucose reading. They wrap up with a lightning round of quick questions patients ask every day.Questions we answer:Do supplements help with glycemic control?Which supplements can increase the risk of hypoglycemia with diabetes medications?Which supplement can raise blood glucose, and what dose?Can supplements throw off glucose readings? We also cover:What the evidence shows for berberine and fenugreek for glycemic control.Why supplements taken for neuropathy, stress, or sleep can still affect blood glucose.Why high-dose niacin may require diabetes medication adjustments.How much vitamin C can cause falsely elevated glucose readings, and why it varies by device.A lightning round of commonly asked questions. 🏷️ Use code natmed1026 at checkout for 10% off a new or upgraded subscription. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor) Kelly Daniels, BA (News Editor & Associate Content Manager)******CE Information:None of the speakers have anything to disclose. TRC Healthcare offers CE credit for this podcast for subscribers. Log in to your Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, or Prescriber Insights account and look for the title of this podcast in the list of available CE courses.Claim Credit******The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterInfographicMonographs: Niacin, Vitamin C, Ashwagandha, Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Fenugreek, BerberineTools: Effectiveness by Condition, Interaction Checker ******Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted, practical insights and tools. ******🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

Weight loss supplements labeled as tejocote, Nuez de la India, or Brazil Seeds tested positive for toxic yellow oleander – and as few as two seeds can be lethal! In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford, Andrea Stafford, and Kelly Daniels break down what yellow oleander is, how it keeps ending up in weight loss products, how to recognize toxicity, and how third-party quality certifications can help steer patients toward better quality options.Questions we answer:What is yellow oleander, and why is it dangerous even in trace amounts?What does oleander toxicity look like clinically, and how is it treated?Which third-party quality certifications verify a supplement’s content? We also cover:How dietary supplements are regulated. How oleander toxicity mirrors digoxin poisoning, and how it’s reversed.The difference between adulterated and misbranded supplements, and why it matters clinically.🏷️ Use code natmed1026 at checkout for 10% off a new or upgraded subscription. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor)Kelly Daniels, BA (News Editor & Associate Content Manager)******CE Information:None of the speakers have anything to disclose. TRC Healthcare offers CE credit for this podcast for subscribers. Log in to your Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, or Prescriber Insights account and look for the title of this podcast in the list of available CE courses.Claim Credit******The clinical resources related to this podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterInfographicMonograph: OleanderChart: Quality CertificationsChart: FDA Information on Select Dietary Supplement Ingredients and Other SubstancesFDA Issues Warning About Certain Products Containing Toxic Yellow Oleander ******Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted insights and tools. ******🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

Parents and patients are finding detailed ADHD supplement protocols online listing ten to twenty ingredients. But what does the evidence actually say, and what happens when those supplements get layered on top of prescription medications? In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford, Andrea Stafford, and Kelly Daniels break down what ADHD supplement stacking is, which ingredients are showing up most often, what the clinical evidence shows, and where the real safety concerns lie.Questions we answer:What is supplement stacking, and why is it gaining momentum for ADHD?What does the evidence show for fish oil, tyrosine, and zinc?What are key drug interactions and common side effects clinicians should know about?How should a clinician approach the conversation when a patient brings in a supplement stack? We also cover:Why more ingredients don’t necessarily mean better outcomes.What some clinical guidelines say about fish oil and zinc for children with ADHD.SSRIs, serotonin syndrome, and other interaction risks.How to counsel patients when the hype exceeds the evidence.🏷️ Use code natmed1026 at checkout for 10% off a new or upgraded subscription. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor)Kelly Daniels, BA (News Editor & Associate Content Manager)******CE Information:None of the speakers have anything to disclose. TRC Healthcare offers CE credit for this podcast for subscribers. Log in to your Pharmacist’s Letter, Pharmacy Technician’s Letter, or Prescriber Insights account and look for the title of this podcast in the list of available CE courses.Claim Credit******The clinical resources related to this podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterInfographicMonograph: Fish OilMonograph: TyrosineMonograph: Zinc******Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted insights and tools.🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

Methylene blue is gaining momentum. Patients are hearing claims about improvements for brain fog, focus, memory, and mitochondrial health. But how much of that is backed by evidence? In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford, Andrea Stafford, and Kelly Daniels break down what methylene blue is, what the evidence shows, and why safety may be a bigger concern than many patients realize.Questions we answer:What is methylene blue, and why is it trending?Does it actually help with brain fog, focus, or memory?What are key safety risks and drug interactions clinicians should know about?Which patients should avoid methylene blue entirely? We also cover:Why methylene blue is not a natural supplementProduct quality and regulatory concernsSSRIs, serotonin syndrome, and other interaction risksHow to counsel patients when the hype exceeds the evidence 🏷️ Our listeners can get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code natmed1026 at checkout. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor)Kelly Daniels, BA (News Editor & Associate Content Manager)******CE Information:This podcast is sourced from the NatMed August Newsletter. To claim CE credit, subscribers should read the newsletter and click “Take the CE Quiz” link to take the quiz. Claim Credit******The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterInfographicMonograph: Methylene Blue🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

Food, supplement, and medication interactions are more common—and more nuanced—than many clinicians realize.Everyday foods and supplements can quietly alter drug effectiveness or safety - and often go unrecognized in practice. Grapefruit juice, orange, juice, and green tea extract are just a few examples that may have more clinical significance than expected.In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford, Andrea Stafford, and Kelly Daniels break down clinically relevant interactions using atorvastatin as a case study—and show how to apply a practical framework for identifying, interpreting, and managing these interactions at the point of care.Questions we answer in this episode:Which common beverages, foods, and supplements interact with atorvastatin - and how do they affect the drug?How do interactions differ between increased drug levels (toxicity risk) vs reduced drug effectiveness?When should clinicians recommend avoidance vs timing adjustments vs monitoring?How can clinicians identify interactions patients don’t think to mention in routine conversations?🏷️ Our listeners can get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code natmed1026 at checkout. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor)Kelly Daniels, BA (News Editor & Associate Content Manager)Guest:Cathi Dennehy, PharmD, FCSHP (Health Sciences Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, UCSF School of Pharmacy)******CE Information:This podcast is sourced from the NatMed June 2026 Newsletter. To claim CE credit, subscribers should read the newsletter and click “Take the CE Quiz” link to take the quiz. Claim Credit******The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterInteraction CheckerInfographicMonograph: GrapefruitMonograph: Green TeaMonograph: Orange Juice******Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted, practical insights and tools. ******🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

When a patient pulls out a trending supplement like sea moss and asks, “Does this actually work?”—what do you say…especially when the evidence is limited?In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford, Andrea Stafford, and Kelly Daniels use sea moss as a case study to walk through a practical, evidence-based approach to high-hype supplements. Questions we answer:What is sea moss—and why is it suddenly everywhere?What does the evidence actually show (and where does it fall short)?How should clinicians respond when patients ask about supplements with weak or uncertain evidence?We also cover:Why dietary supplements are often harder to evaluate than Rx or OTC medicationsKey safety considerations—including iodine exposure and thyroid risksHow product variability and lack of standardization impact clinical decisionsA simple framework for counseling patients without over- or under-endorsing trends🏷️ Our listeners can get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code natmed1026 at checkout. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor)Kelly Daniels, BA (News Editor & Associate Content Manager)******CE Information:This podcast is sourced from the NatMed May 2026 Newsletter. To claim CE credit, subscribers should read the newsletter and click “Take the CE Quiz” link to take the quiz. Claim Credit******The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterInfographicMonograph: Sea MossMonograph: Carrageenan******Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted, practical insights and tools. 🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

Migraines are complicated — and when patients are dealing with recurring symptoms, it’s no surprise many turn to natural medicines. From butterbur and CoQ10 to caffeine, these options are easy to find and frequently discussed, but the evidence and safety can vary widely depending on how they’re used.In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP; Andrea Stafford, PharmD; and Kelly Daniels break down the evidence behind common natural medicines for migraines and discuss how clinicians can help patients match the right option to the right goal… prevention versus acute treatment, while setting realistic expectations at the point of care.Questions we answer in this episode:What should clinicians know about butterbur, including effectiveness, PA‑free labeling, product quality, and safety concerns? How long does coenzyme Q10 typically take to show benefit, and how should patients be counseled before starting it?When can caffeine play a helpful role in migraine treatment — and when might it backfire?Throughout the episode, we discuss how dose, timing, and total intake can shape whether natural medicines work as expected — and why those details matter just as much as the ingredient itself. We also share practical counseling approaches pharmacists can use to keep conversations focused and useful when patients ask what’s worth trying for migraines, without defaulting to a one‑size‑fits‑all answer.🏷️ Get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code natmed1026 at checkout. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor)Kelly Daniels, BA (News Editor & Associate Content Manager)******CE Information:This podcast is sourced from the NatMed April 2026 Newsletter. To claim CE credit, subscribers should read the newsletter and click “Take the CE Quiz” link to take the quiz. Claim Credit******Clinical resources, part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterInfographicMonograph: ButterburMonograph: Coenzyme Q10Monograph: CaffeineEffectiveness by Condition Tool: Migraine HeadacheSubscribe today!******🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

Anti‑aging products are everywhere — from retinol serums and glycolic acid peels to bee venom creams and hormone‑based supplements. But what actually works, and how should clinicians counsel patients when the evidence is mixed or limited?In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford, PharmD, BCPS, BCCP; Andrea Stafford, PharmD; and Kelly Daniels break down the evidence behind common aging‑skin ingredients and discuss how pharmacists can help patients set realistic expectations while navigating a hype‑heavy space at the point of care.Questions we answer in this episode:What aging‑skin treatments have evidence to support their use — and which ones deserve more skepticism?How do topical vitamin A (retinoids) and glycolic acid compare in terms of effectiveness, tolerability, and safety?How should clinicians interpret “insufficient evidence,” and how can that nuance be communicated clearly to patients?We also cover:How study design, formulation, and safety considerations (including cancer risk with DHEA) affect how clinicians interpret aging‑skin evidence.Why trendy ingredients like bee venom may sound compelling but lack strong clinical support.Practical counseling tips pharmacists can use when patients ask, “What should I try first?”🏷️ Our listeners can get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code natmed1026 at checkout. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor)Kelly Daniels, BA (News Editor & Associate Content Manager)******CE Information:This podcast is sourced from the NatMed March 2026 Newsletter. To claim CE credit, subscribers should read the newsletter and click “Take the CE Quiz” link to take the quiz. Claim Credit******The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterInfographicMonograph: Vitamin AMonograph: Glycolic AcidMonograph: DHEAMonograph: Bee Venom******Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted, practical insights and tools. ******🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

Brain support. Focus. Memory. “Nootropic.” Smart drugs… or smart marketing? Here’s what the studies actually suggest about benefits AND risks.In this episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford and Andrea Stafford share point-of-care counseling:What are “nootropics,” and how should clinicians define them for patients asking for memory/focus support? What does the human evidence look like for bacopa, ginkgo, and lion’s mane—and how does it differ in healthy adults vs people with cognitive impairment? What safety and interaction issues should trigger a “pause,” especially when patients bring multi‑ingredient brain blends?How should pharmacists triage a “brain support” supplement request?We also cover bacopa: the bottom line on mixed benefit signals and tolerability (especially GI effects); ginkgo: the “3 Bs” interaction shortcut—bleeding, brain/neurotoxicity, blood glucose; and lion’s mane: why it’s popular, why benefit in healthy adults isn’t clear, and the key safety flags to keep on your radar.🏷️ Our listeners can get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code natmed1026 at checkout. ******NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts: Jeff Langford PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor)Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor)******CE Information:This podcast is sourced from the NatMed February 2026 Newsletter. To claim CE credit, subscribers should read the newsletter and click “Take the CE Quiz” link to take the quiz. Claim Credit******The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed: 🌱 NatMed Pro💊 TRC HealthcareNewsletterMonograph: BacopaMonograph: GinkgoMonograph: Lion's Mane Mushroom******Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted, practical insights and tools. ******🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.

GLP‑1 users often eat less—raising the risk of muscle loss and nutrient shortfalls.In this premiere episode, NatMed editors Jeff Langford and Andrea Stafford share point‑of‑care counseling:How much protein should patients aim for—and how can they actually hit these goals across the day?How should patients fill their plates to protect protein and produce intake (MyPlate)?What hydration and fiber targets help keep bowel movements comfortable and regular for GLP-1 users?How can patients manage nausea during initiation and titration?We also cover whole‑food priorities vs shakes/bars, what “eat the rainbow” really looks like for micronutrients, an activity anchor (including strength training to preserve lean mass), and age‑aware notes on vitamin D & calcium—plus quick talking points you can use with patients on semaglutide or tirzepatide. 🏷️ Our listeners can get 10% off a new or upgraded subscription with code natmed1026 at checkout.  ****** NatMed / TRC Healthcare Editor Hosts:  Jeff Langford PharmD, BCPS, BCCP (Managing Clinical Editor) Andrea Stafford, PharmD (Assistant Editor) ****** CE Information: This podcast is sourced from the NatMed January 2026 Newsletter. To claim CE credit, subscribers should read the newsletter and click “Take the CE Quiz” link to take the quiz.  Claim Credit ****** The clinical resources mentioned during the podcast are part of a subscription to NatMed:  🌱 NatMed Pro 💊 TRC Healthcare GLP‑1 Toolkit Interactive CE Course: GLP-1 Agonists: Supporting Success with Nutrition and Lifestyle Considerations Newsletter Chart: Protein Content of Common FoodsChart: Calcium-Rich FoodsChart: Vitamin D-Rich FoodsChart: Fiber-Rich Foods****** Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to stay ahead with trusted, practical insights and tools.  ****** 🗪 Send us Fan MailEmail us: [email protected] The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.Natural Medicines: Evidence in Practice is a production of TRC Healthcare.