One Family’s Story, And Our Mission To Protect Natural Health Products In Canada
At the Natural Health Product Protection Association we’re continually reminded of the deep and personal reasons people support our mission.
Recently, we received a generous donation from an individual who, despite living overseas, remains passionate about protecting access to natural health products in Canada.
This donor’s two adult children are navigating life in Canada with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder that requires a supportive approach to care. (1) For this family, proper supplementation isn’t just a preference, it’s essential for their well-being. And yet, under Health Canada’s Self-Care Framework, access to critical natural health products is under threat. The result? Fewer choices for families who rely on them most.
The Self-Care Framework is making it increasingly difficult and expensive for small and medium-sized companies to keep natural health products on the market. This government initiative claims to “harmonize” the regulation of natural health products with that of pharmaceutical drugs. But, natural health products are nothing like synthetic pharmaceutical drugs and should not be regulated in the same way. While natural health products have a safe history of use for thousands of years, most pharmaceuticals have lengthy lists of serious side-effects.
Additionally, the businesses manufacturing natural health products lack the massive budgets of pharmaceutical companies or the patent protections granted to drug companies that allow them to reap huge profits from their products.
According to Shawn Buckley, “Health Canada claims its changes are to ensure the safety of Canadians, but without access to these products, Canadians’ health is at greater risk than ever as many will be forced to rely on pharmaceutical drugs with pages-long lists of side-effects, some of which include death.”
Across Canada, individuals and families are increasingly turning to natural health products as part of their daily wellness routines. A report prepared for Health Canada, titled Evaluation of the Natural Health Products Program 2010-2011 to 2014-2015, found that approximately 73% of Canadians reported using natural health products, based on data from a 2010 Ipsos Reid survey. (2) Given the growing interest in preventative and natural health over the past 15 years, it’s reasonable to assume that this number is even higher in 2025.
Whether it’s for chronic illness management, preventative care, or supporting mental health, natural health products offer real, measurable benefits. This is especially important during a time when the conventional medical system is stretched beyond capacity. (3)
The donor who shared their story with us deeply understands the importance of protecting access to natural health products in Canada. Their children’s health depends on it.
All contributions help fund our critical work of protecting access to natural health products in Canada and the freedom to choose how we care for our health. We’re incredibly grateful for this act of generosity, and moved by the story behind it.
Help Us Protect Your Right To Access Natural Health Products
Stories like this remind us why our work matters, and why we can’t do it alone. If you believe that Canadian families deserve the freedom to access natural health products, and want to support the practitioners, retailers, and manufacturers who make that possible, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation.
It is only because of supporters like you, that we can continue our work to protect access to natural health products in Canada.
References
- Mayo Clinic (2022) Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20362125
- Health Canada (2016) Evaluation of the Natural Health Products Program 2010-2011 to 2014-2015. P10. https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/canada/health-canada/migration/department-ministere/health-sante/transparency-transparence/corporate-reporting-rapports-gestion/evaluation/2016-2017/natural-health-products-produits-sante-naturels/alt/nat-health-prod-eng.pdf
- CBC News (2024) Meet some of the 6 million Canadians who don’t have a family doctor. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/meet-the-canadians-without-a-family-doctor-1.7116475
