If you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in something that’s a little more natural than the latest wonder-pill that Big Pharma is pushing.
That’s not to say that prescription pills are all bad, but they simply aren’t always necessary.
Why people often choose prescriptions
There are a few reasons why someone may turn to prescription medications over a natural remedy, but the reasons are often misguided. Let’s take a look at some common reasons:
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1. People trust their doctors
When something is wrong, most people want someone to fix it – and fast. Oftentimes, the doctor can do this by prescribing a medicine to treat the symptoms of the problem. Doctors are very well educated and most use ethical practices. It’s not that you should distrust your doctor, but you should understand his job.
Your doctor’s job is to order the right tests, evaluate and diagnose your condition and, in most cases, prescribe a pharmaceutical to address your symptoms. Just look at modern medicine’s track record. There is a short list of diseases that have been considered eradicated.
Again, the bottom line is that your doctor may be a trustworthy person, but he is trained to treat symptoms rather than cure root problems.
2. Prescriptions seem to work
In many cases, prescription medications are very good at what they do. Unfortunately, though, what they do is to mask the symptoms or keep them at bay. For example, if you have chronic pain and begin taking a pain reliever, there’s a good chance that you’ll feel better instantly. But your problem is far from solved. In fact, you may feel so good that you become more physically active and aggravate the root issue, making it worse. But people enjoy feeling good, so they often opt for the medication over the natural remedy.
3. Natural remedies can take time to work
Most prescription medications are designed to work immediately. Natural remedies often take longer. Although there are some that get to work right away, like taking honey for a sore throat, others need to build up in your system over time. Homeopathic remedies are great examples of natural treatments that work best when taken consistently.
So now that we’ve covered some of the reasons why people take prescriptions over natural remedies, let’s explore the alternative.
Benefits of natural remedies over prescriptions
When you think about natural remedies, you may think about ancient Chinese herbs or some South American healing shaman, but natural remedies can also be quite simple and commonplace.
Regardless of where your natural remedies come from, they have many benefits over prescription medications.
1. Fewer side effects
We’ve all seen the television commercials for pharmaceuticals with long lists of side effects that are scarier than the disease they are meant to treat. Natural remedies have fewer side effects, and many don’t have any side effects at all.
Consider for a moment that anything that fails to introduce a foreign chemical to your body is a natural remedy. Under this definition, we’re talking about more than just herbs. Stretching, for example, could be a natural remedy for a condition like piriformis syndrome. In this case, there are no side effects.
Although it’s rare, some natural remedies can have severe side effects or dangerous drug interactions. For example, if you’re taking blood thinners, gingko biloba would be a dangerous natural remedy for you. And if you have kidney issues, you’ll want to avoid Saint John’s wort.
But once you’re aware of the potential side effects, it should be easy to avoid them. Always do your research and/or talk to a natural healthcare practitioner before you take any natural remedy. Start by searching online, and then research each treatment you find. If you have access to a natural healthcare practitioner, talk to her about your options.
2. Addressing the root problem
Some natural remedies address symptoms, but in most cases, their goals to address the root cause of the problem. Homeopathy, for example, is designed to bring the entire body into alignment while treating any particular ailment. The idea is that you cannot truly heal one area of the body without treating the whole.
3. It’s good for you
This one is simple. When you think about your food supply, you know that organic is better because you’re avoiding toxic chemicals that would otherwise have been sprayed on your food. When it comes to remedies, there’s a similar concept at play. Although they are often based on organic matter, pharmaceuticals are man-made substances that come out of a laboratory. They are not natural. As such, you will not find the same chemical anywhere in your body. As they say, disease is not a result of a pharmaceutical deficiency.
4. Supports the body’s natural healing process
Your body was built to survive. It knows how to heal itself and has amazing abilities of repair. In some cases, we just need to provide the body with the right tools to heal itself. Natural remedies are designed to do exactly that.
5. Cost-effective
If you have a good health insurance plan, the modern medicine route may seem affordable. But unfortunately, most Americans do not have access to affordable healthcare.
In contrast, natural remedies are usually quite affordable. Let’s look at a natural remedy for one common condition among women: the urinary tract infection (UTI). D-Mannose is a sugar derived from cranberries that effectively treats the UTI in its early stages. Its cost is between $20 and $30 for a bottle that will last many uses. If you were to go to the doctor without insurance, you could spend upwards of $100 just for the visit. You would also need to pay for the antibiotic to treat your UTI.
6. Non-addictive
Another benefit to natural remedies is that they’re non-addictive. While not every prescription drug is addictive, many can lead to dangerous addictions. Opioid painkillers and sleeping pills are two common examples of additive prescriptions. As most people can see by watching the news, opiod-based pharmaceuticals and their addictiveness are what’s fueling the addiction crisis across the U.S. Sticking with natural treatments will help you avoid developing a deadly habit that would require even more treatment.
If you’re on the fence about whether you should take a natural remedy, consider your condition. In most cases, it’s worth a try. On the other hand, if your condition is likely to progress quickly or is life-threatening, you should see a medical doctor.
