Rather than speak in chemist\'s terms, I simplified. There are MD\'s who support my case too! I wouldn\'t just depend on my old granny\'s secrets. But seriously, the kind of junk in Tylenol cold is no match for stuff from the Earth. Most of it is artificially dyed with aluminum derivatives (Red 40). This hurts over long term exposure.
It\'s important to remember than many doctors and pharmies have a business to run! It\'s ridiculously political. Why should they care about long range case studies, unless it means a lawsuit?
Side effects are null when it comes to natural remedies.
I do support Western Medicine as an aggregate, esp. when it comes to vaccination against already eradicated diseases like polio and M-M-R. I\'ve never gotten a flu shot and never will. I don\'t need any more mercury and thimerisol in my body, thanks! I don\'t like taking antibiotics because it decreases friendly bacteria, but in some (very few) cases it\'s necessary--some bacteria are deadly. I am bothered by doctors that prescribe antibiotics for viruses. They are contributing to resistant strains of microbes.
you make some very valid points (especially about unnecessary antibiotics)
however, you have to be careful with natural remedies.... not all of them are without risk ! st. johns wort is an enzyme inducer which means it can decrease the level of other medications in your body (like birth control pills, ie, you can get pregnant) ... in addition, some have been associated with life-threatening adverse effects (like serotonin syndrome or Stevens-Johnson syndrome).... in addition, some natural supplements actually contain medications by prescription ( for example, Red yeast rice can lower cholesterol because it contains Lovastatin, a prescription drug for cholesterol management. This medication requires liver function tests every 6 months)
i am certainly an advocate of natural remedies, however, because they do actually work. its just hard for me to recommend because we have limited randomized, placebo-controlled studies to verify if they actually are statistically effective. this is because companies will not pay to investigate this because they can\'t patent and naturally-occurring substance. i know, it frustrates me as well!
you must also use caution when buying supplements; they are considered a "food product" and thus do not have to be quality-tested by the FDA. i read a study that showed herbal supplements to contain anywhere from 25-225% of the actual amount of
labeled ingredients! always buy products that come from a USP certified supplier !!!
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