Am I saying all pills are bad? No. According to Prescription for Herbal Healing by Phyllis A. Balch "Many, perhaps 75 percent, of all conventional medications are refinements of herbal medicines." In other words, they started with an herb but in order for them to be able to patent their drug and sell it for higher prices they had to "jazz it up." So they started extracting the specific chemicals they wanted from the herb and adding synthetic compounds to them that could be patented. Their results gave us easily taken pills that can usually treat a few different types of related ailments. There have been some incredible breakthoughs that have saved many lives and I have great respect for those individuals that work so hard to better our lives and keep us healthy. What I'm saying is that their are other options with little to no side effects that won't put synthetic chemicals in your body and mind.
Also you can't forget about the rising costs of health care when making your decision. I'm not even able to afford health insurance right now and I'm sure that there are many more of you out there struggling with this dilemna. The government thinks that their options are going to help us but those prices can be just as high. Prescriptions can be expensive with insurance let alone trying to purchase it without any. 1 simple asthma inhaler costs $100. A bottle of Peppermint Essential Oil which contains an antispasmodic and can be inhaled to help control asthma attacks will cost you $10.
Does this mean you don't need to go to the doctor. Hell no! Even when taking herbs or using another kind of natural healing you should consult with your doctor. Just because it is natural does not always mean it is safe for you and you should always follow recommended dosages as some herbs and essential oils can be harmful, if not deadly if used in the wrong way, or by taking too much. Also some herbs can react with other medications. A good reference book for this is, Natural Health Magazine's Instant Guide to Drug-Herb Interactions by Chris D. Meletis, N.D. There are also many doctors that specialize in natural healing that can help guide you in these ways.
I stopped taking prescriptions shortly after moving to Florida about 4 years ago. I went through a difficult period when I was given my diagnosis and told that there was no cure. I was passed from dr. to dr. I finally ended up on Pain Managements doorstep. I had a very kind, understanding, and compassionate dr. who had even done his training through the Mayo Clinic. I thought this guy had to be my best hope. I was very wrong. By the end of it, my mind was an even bigger mess, I had been conquered by depression, the doctor bills were piling up, I could no longer afford my meds, and my marriage was in turmoil. Something had to change. Moving to Florida and getting off the meds was the best thing I could have done for me and my family.
Choosing natural healing doesn't have to be a huge change all at once. I first started with yoga, water therapy, and meditation because that was what felt right to me at the time. There are many choices when it comes to natural healing so I suggest getting a book at your library or looking on google to find the different approaches available to you and then make your decision based on what feels right for you. Much of what you will see on this blog will deal with herbs and essential oils as that is what I am researching and using at this time. A few other choices available are: Ayurveda, Flower Essence Therapy, Food Therapy, Homeopathy, Reflexology, Sound Therapy, and Vitamin and Mineral Therapy.
I hope that this will help you in making your decision and I will continue to post tips and things that I learn in my research to help you get started on your natural path. Remember, each of us are different and our bodies respond in different ways so what is right for one person may not be right for another. For some ailments you may be better off taking the pill from the doctor and in others the pill is just masking an underlying problem that could be healed through natural means eliminating the need for that pill. Listen to your body and listen to your intuition. Have a beautiful week.
Missy
