Navigating complementary medicines

How do similar-looking products produce vastly different clinical outcomes?

One of the major challenges in complementary medicine is the illusion of equivalence between products. Since permitted health claims are not dose-dependent, two products can carry the same indication, such as “supports relaxation” or “relieves mild stress”, despite having vastly different formulations.

For instance, a magnesium supplement containing a bioavailable form at a clinically effective dose may deliver strong results, while another with a poorly absorbed form at a low dose might not. Similarly, in herbal medicine, one product might use a standardised extract from a specific plant part, while another relies on an unstandardised version with limited therapeutic relevance. Despite these differences, both products can legally make the same claim.

As a result, many products appear similar, but only some deliver meaningful outcomes. Practitioners must look beyond labels and assess formulation quality, standardisation and dosing to ensure clinical relevance and patient safety.

With so much self-selection happening online, why are naturopaths more essential than ever?

Today’s patients are more proactive than ever, often arriving at clinic after trying several over-the-counter products with mixed or sometimes no results. Unfortunately, self-selection based on marketing, influencer content or general symptom matching can lead to poor outcomes or even harm. Naturopaths play an essential role in demystifying this category, educating patients and translating clinical evidence into real-world, individualised care. Their expertise ensures the right product, in the right form and dose, is selected, maximising benefit and reducing risk.

Practitioner-led protocols begin by identifying what is truly happening within the body, considering the whole person rather than focusing solely on symptoms. Through thorough assessment, testing, and clinical reasoning, practitioners prioritise which issues to address first and develop a clear, structured plan targeting underlying causes.

Whereas patient-led approaches often focus on symptom relief alone, relying on trial and error with popular products. While symptom improvement is important, this method risks missing root causes, leading to incomplete or temporary results.

Practitioner-led care offers more targeted, effective outcomes because it addresses underlying imbalances, reduces the risk of inappropriate product use, and supports long-term health rather than quick fixes.

How does SFI Health bridge the gap between naturopathy and clinical healthcare?

SFI Health plays a vital role in aligning naturopathic principles with clinical standards by ensuring all products are research-backed, formulated with therapeutic intent and compliant with regulatory requirements. We collaborate closely with practitioners to provide education, evidence-based support and access to high-quality, standardised extracts. This not only strengthens clinical outcomes but also helps naturopaths integrate more seamlessly within the broader healthcare system, fostering mutual respect and understanding between disciplines.

How does SFI Health help educate practitioners on product quality?

SFI Health prioritises transparency, clinical integrity and evidence-based formulation. We focus on using standardised extracts where available, ensuring therapeutic dosages, and avoiding unnecessary excipients that may affect patient outcomes. By clearly communicating the science and rationale behind each formulation, we empower practitioners to identify what truly matters: therapeutic intent, clinical relevance and patient safety. We also provide tools and education to help practitioners evaluate products critically and confidently.

Standardisation ensures each dose of a product contains a consistent amount of the active constituents that have been clinically researched. This consistency gives practitioners confidence when prescribing, as it supports the expectation of outcomes observed in clinical trials. Without standardisation, variability in active ingredient levels can lead to unpredictable efficacy.

What does SFI Health offer to help practitioners stay up to date in a rapidly changing field?

The complementary medicine landscape evolves quickly, with new research, regulatory updates and shifting consumer trends continually emerging. SFI Health is committed to supporting practitioners through our dedicated healthcare professional-only website, which offers continuing education, clinical resources and access to our internal naturopaths. From webinars to evidence summaries, we equip practitioners with timely, trustworthy information they can confidently apply in the clinic.

Education topics are selected through a multifaceted approach. We keep a close eye on industry developments and emerging clinical issues to ensure our content remains relevant and evidence-based. Practitioner feedback plays a crucial role, as listening to the challenges and questions raised in clinical settings allows us to address real-world needs effectively.

We also align our educational focus with our key pillars: the microbiome, cognitive health and women’s health, areas key to our heart but also areas experiencing significant growth and patient demand.

To enhance learning, we engage respected key opinion leaders who provide expert insights and clinical pearls of wisdom, enriching our educational offerings and helping practitioners deepen their expertise.

What should practitioners look for when recommending complementary medicine products?

Selecting the right product starts with understanding What quality looks like. Here are a few key considerations practitioners can use to make confident, clinically relevant decisions:

Standardised ingredients: Look for products that use standardised extracts or forms shown to be effective in research. This ensures consistency in active constituents and supports reliable clinical outcomes.

Therapeutic dosages: Check that ingredients are included at doses that align with published evidence or traditional use. Subtherapeutic amounts may not deliver the intended benefit.

Excipient list: All excipients in listed medicines are available to the public via the TGA website, allowing practitioners to assess their appropriateness for individual patients.

TGA-listed products: Choosing products that are listed with the Therapeutic Goods Administration ensures they meet Australian safety, quality and manufacturing standards. Be cautious with imported or online-only products that may not undergo the same level of scrutiny.

Company transparency and support: A reputable company should be open about its sourcing, manufacturing practices and clinical rationale. If in doubt, reach out directly as transparent brands are typically happy to provide answers and practitioner support.

What advice does SFI Health have for practitioners who want to set a higher standard in complementary care?

Raising the standard begins with a commitment to clinical excellence and critical thinking. Practitioners should seek products and brands that prioritise quality by looking for standardised extracts, proven dosages and transparent sourcing. Staying curious and committed to continuous learning is vital in this dynamic field.

SFI Health supports practitioners on this journey by providing evidence-based resources, expert support, and sharing a vision of elevating complementary medicine where patient outcomes and practitioner integrity are paramount.