Milestones in Medicine
Over the past century, and more recently, in the past ten years, we found ways to fight back many infectious diseases and illnesses. For precautions, there have also been many vaccinations distributed, in order to prevent any more illness outbreaks. You practically need a physical before joining anything sports or work-related. However, despite all of the prescriptions, treatments, and medical procedures, a lot of people still experience health complications.
It doesn’t take a doctor to figure out that too much of anything is bad, deadly even. Water is essential to our lives and our overall health. We can’t live without it. However, if you consume a lot of water in a short time frame, it can be dangerous.
Side Effects of Prescribed Drugs
The outcome of drinking way too much water can dilute the sodium in the body, leading to hyponatremia.
Side effects include headaches, nausea, and other symptoms that can cause the body’s organs to fail and can end up killing you in the process. If a natural element such as water can be harmful, to some extent, imagine what man-made drugs and prescriptions can do to your body.
Dr. Williams Lee, the founder of an Acute Liver Failure Study Group; which was also funded by the National Institutes of Health, states that the substance, acetaminophen in Tylenol, is responsible for 46 percent of acute liver failure cases in the U.S.. Dr. Michael Lynch, a toxicologist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; and director of the Pittsburgh Poison Control, also states that using more than the suggested dosage of acetaminophen for several days is responsible for a large portion of accidental overdoses. It would be no different than taking a large dosage in one sitting; or in less than 24 hours.
Tylenol has been reported by the FDA, US Food and Drug Administration, to have been recalled in multiple products. These products include children’s Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol, Regular Strength Tylenol, and more products. Other brands of medicine, in 2019, have already been reported by the FDA and have also been recalled. These brands include CVS Equate Oral Ibuprofen, Puritan Eye Relief Drops, Zero Xtreme Dietary Supplement for weight loss, and many other products listed on the FDA’s website.
So far, on that list, 88 different brands of over-the-counter drugs have been recalled between March 29, 2018, and March 22, 2019. Tylenol alone had 9.3 million bottles recalled.
Now, after analyzing the adversity of over-the-counter medicine, research also concludes that prescriptions follow a similar pattern.
Statistics mostly consist of adverse drug reactions from non-addictive patients in the U.S. 40.9 percent of victims were affected due to the wrong dosage, 16 percent was given the wrong drug, and 9.5 percent was victimized due to improper handling during administration. There is a lot more funded research that supports multiple claims of the harmful effects of man-made medicine. However, what is there to do next?
Despite the research and the recalls, medicines and vaccinations are still being sent back out. People may be at risk for mild to severe side effects of drugs, but they still need some form of medicine. Fortunately, there are just as many alternatives and preventive methods as there are drugs.
Traditional and Natural Alternatives and Nutrients
Growing up my mother was a firm believer in medicine and natural healing. She believed in preventing us from getting sick by staying on top of our health. She too agreed that too many chemicals and artificial products don’t belong in our bodies. We were also very athletic growing up and sustained little to no injuries throughout the majority of our careers.
However, when we were faced with some unfortunate setbacks, we didn’t have to sit out for too long. That mentality grew on me and prepared me. I recently tore my Achilles and since then I’ve been giving my body plenty of nutrients that have made my recovery better. Due to clean eating, I lost 8-10 pounds and due to the antioxidants in coconut oil, my scar is healing fast as well. (Left: Feb.11, 2019. Right: March 28, 2019. Images are blurred)
Natural alternatives can aid in the prevention and the cure for illnesses and diseases. These natural methods include herbs, plants, minerals and vitamins, and a healthier lifestyle. Some people may claim these methods aren’t very helpful, however, a lot of people need to understand that these methods only work with discipline and patience.
Source of the Health Problem
It doesn’t always take overnight for someone to become sick or to develop a long-term health problem. The source of internal issues always comes from how we take care of our bodies beforehand. Some people also believe that regardless of health, contracting something contagious is inevitable. That can be true. However, everyone’s body is different and there are multiple ways to strengthen your immune system.
Just like drugs, artificial food products are harmful as well. Our immune system needs the proper nutrients in order to fight off illnesses and foreign microorganisms that enter our bodies.
When we expose ourselves to different environments, while we consume harmful medicine and food on a daily basis, we put ourselves at risk in the long run. Or in some cases, this can impact us sooner than we think.
For example, antibiotics like penicillin and methicillin are used to treat many infections like Urinary Tract Infections and to protect the healing process in post-surgical procedures. However, if you take the wrong amount or the wrong brand of antibiotics, you are at risk of causing the bacteria to adjust to the antibiotic. Thus making the bacteria stronger in order to spread.
We can adjust by being more precautious. We also need to add more natural alternatives in our lives so we don’t have to solely depend on man-made medicine.
Natural Healings
We used to always say “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” and it can be true. Apple health benefits include the aid in digestion, the assistance to cure respiratory problems, the reduction of pressure on blood vessels, the assistance in helping to control anemia and many more benefits.
The main health benefits of fruit and vegetables are vitamins and minerals, such as folate which is a B-vitamin that helps your body make DNA. Other health benefits also include the presence of potassium, the presence of vitamin C, fiber and cancer-fighting properties.
To get the proper nutrients you have to eat food in its natural form. Any food containing a lot of trans fats but mainly, artificial preservatives, can have harmful effects on your body if too much is consumed. Some preservatives do come in handy when it comes to the longevity of the storage of food. But what about your body? Many canned or airtightly sealed foods can last from months, to up to a year, if stored properly. However, imagine how long they’ll last in your body.
Eating preservatives can lead to headaches, heart tremors, allergies and cancer. While trans fat can be hard to digest. The easiest and best way to steer clear of foods pump up with preservatives is to choose foods that contain the least amount of ingredients. It may feel somewhat tedious to pay extra or to have to keep a close eye on groceries, so they don’t spoil too fast. However, it’s just a small compromise in order to sustain good health.
When you feel somewhat under the weather, there are plenty of home remedies for that as well. If you have a headache, ginger or peppermint can provide relief. If you feel like a cold is coming on, lemon, garlic, and honey are powerful antioxidants; with many other great health benefits. If you have joint pain or inflammation in your body, turmeric root or apple cider vinegar can create long-term health benefits. All of these home remedies can be just as effective as medicine.
The biggest alternative people are pushing for, is the use of medical marijuana. Cannabis healing properties include relief of headaches, nausea, menstrual cramps and even prohibits cancer growth.
However, don’t feel bad if you want to make a stop at McDonald’s on the way home from the gym, or if you’re freaking out just thinking of a measles outbreak in your first-graders class; and decided to get them vaccinated.
Just take in consideration of the long-term effects and look at all your alternatives. More than likely you may find your cure in the produce aisle or growing in the garden in your backyard.
