There are many reasons why people are starting to turn to natural health remedies instead of the conventional prescription drugs. If you went out onto the street and ask lots of people what they think of natural and alternative therapies then you’d get varying answers. Some will talk about what they’ve read in a magazine or watched on TV whilst others might have personal stories to tell.
Although I have been lucky enough not to have dealt with any real health ailments in my life, I have taken a keen interest in health supplements, food, exercise and all of these types of topics. The reason is because of what I’ve had to witness from my own parents.
My mum was officially diagnosed with Multiple Scleroses (MS) 13 years a go. There were many different tests done at the time including a lumber puncture and brain scans. When the doctor told her that it was MS he effectively said for her to go home and forget about it. If you have ever watched anything on tv about ms or read about it, you will know that it is a degenerative condition which leaves people in wheelchairs, or even in much worse conditions. Simply going home and acting like everything is normal is not at all possible. Because of the lack of help from conventional medicine, my mum and dad both read considerable amounts of information about this condition via books. They read about nutrition, exercise and natural health supplements. They also had consultations with natural health practitioners (including Jan de Vries) who said that it wasn’t as bad as MS and it was actually ME. They are both 2 of th e many different types of autoimmune condition.
I won’t go into a great amount of detail about what natural health therapies that were used but there were many vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (evening primrose oil and fish oil). Although she still gets tired and has to take a nap every day, she has never needed to use a wheelchair or anything like that.
My dad’s health problems were back pain and digestion problems. First of all he hurt his back whilst taking heavy carrier bags from the shopping trolley and placing them in the boot of the car. Carrying the heavy weight whilst twisting round caused him major pain. His doctor told him to go home and rest but my dad wasn’t happy with this medical advice. So he got lots of books on back pain and they said that he should exercise. This advice is now common practice but at the time my dad’s doc wasn’t happy about him going against his professional opinion.
The other health problem related to digestion. My dad had put anti freeze into the car but realized he put in too much. SO he got a straw and sucked some out and then spit it out before he swalled any. Unfortunately some of this got into his system and it made him very ill very quickly afterwards. It’s thought that it damaged in the inside of his stomach causing food and nutrients not to be absorbed as well as they should. Luckily after a lot of different health advice and supplements he is now able to eat properly again. When he had this condition he couldn’t eat a single thing with yeast or wheat in it. Now is body had recovered.
It’s funny that when a doctor can’t see with his own eyes what is wrong with a patient they think that the patient is a hypochondriac. The doc had asked about his symptoms, when the occurred and if there was any pattern. My dad wasn’t sure so he decided to take a diary of everything he had eaten along with how he felt. The doctor said that he was thinking way too much about his condition and that he should stop. Instead of looking for proper treatments, he wanted to give my dad antidepressants.
Although you should always take the advice of a trained medical practioner, you can also ask if you can receive alternative treatments. Here in the UK, my gran gets acupuncture for nothing on the NHS because of her joint pain. Luckily there are more and more natural therapies being used and they aren’t seen as being mumbo jumbo. Unfortunately I think we still have a long way to go before your doctor will look at alternative therapies before prescribing any drugs.
Unfortunately not everyone in the health care industry can be trusted and it doesn’t matter whether they are self-employed or work for the NHS. I don’t know if they do this on purpose or whether they just aren’t very good at their jobs but my mum has been having a lot of trouble with her neck recently and has gone to various people. There was an osteopath who really didn’t help at all and charged her a small fortune for the privelage. When my mum described the treatment she received to a physio she was told that it was of no help what-so-ever. Luckily things are getting better due to the physiotherpay.
Smoking is a big problem that so many people try to stop. There are so many different tips on stopping smoking. I’m afraid I really don’t know what is good as I have never smoked before. There are people who have done well with hypotherapy but even this doesn’t always work over the long term. If you do give up smoking make sure that you keep away from people who smoke a lot because they will badly influence. Apart from acupuncture and hypnotherapy I’m not sure about any other natural health remedies that can help.
It is important to remember that herbal remedies can have side effects too.
April – what did your father do for his digestive problem? I have something similar and have had no luck with anything I have tried yet.
Sorry to hear your parents are ill, as someone who has ill parents myself i know where you are coming from. It can be emotionally draining.
As for the no smoking tips i think that you have got to 100% want to give up or you will never stick to it. My eldest brother would smoke nearly 40 cigarette a day and one day he just gave up completly and has never had a single cigarette and this was nearly three years ago.
I am all for alternative medicens,I am waitting on green tea coming that I bought online,never tried it,but going to have a go,and exchange this for the obscene amount of soda I drink,
Mike.
Another thing I am doing re my health is giving up smoking,I am on a nicotine inhalator at the moment strugling,but its a must for me, I kept getting head colds,and chest infections which the doc said would happen every couple of weeks if I didnt stop,and Ive had 3 since he told me 6 weeks ago,so its a must.
Mike.
I’m a long time tinnitus sufferer, & have been told that this can be treated with natural remedies. Do you have any experience with this ailment?
According to many scientific studies, green tea will limit the growth of colorectal tumors, reduce mortality due to cardiovascular disease, and contribute to increased life expectancy. It may also contribute to increased weight loss.
My family uses only holistic medicines. We are all vegitarian, or nearly vegitatian. That is a no fat, no cholesterol diet. You avoid half of the health issues. We believe medicines are worse for you than the illness. Of course there are exceptions. But as proof, my grandmother lived to 92, with no health issues other than colds. My mother is 76, has a full time job, and runs around like a teenager. I am fifty, and have never had anything other than a cold. Living long and healthy is usually possible. Focus on the goal of living long and healthy, and never let it leave your mind. It is well worth it.
I have only just got into natural and holistic therapy over the last 10 years or so since I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in my 20’s back in 2001. The doctor telling me that I was going to have to be on medication for the rest of my life was a real wake up call for me. They did all types of heart, kidney and BP tests on me. When I asked them what was causing the problem they said that it was “causes unknown” and that this was perfectly normal – most cases of high BP are like this. I felt that there was nothing normal about me being on medication for the rest of my life if my body was medically healthy so this is when I looked for the alternative. Now i don’t smoke or take salt and I use lots of apple cider vinegar and garlic in my diet along with lots of mind and body therapy. I am still not on medication and my BP is around 130/80 or 90 as opposed to 180/120 that it was before.
A lot of great insight here in both the post and comments… natural remedies are wonderful and should (in my opinion) be considered before other forms of treatment whenever possible. I think there would be fewer health problems in general if more people did this.
I’m 46 years old, and I have asthma since 20 years old. What is the natural remedy? Will somebody advice me? Thanks
I think everybody is now more concerned about what they put into their bodies,including perscription drugs.
Mother nature is the only way to go..
Speaking from personal experience, I feel your quite right about this – and I certainly second your “thoughts”. David Wilson at coach hire in london.
It’s funny how often, when speaking of ‘natural remedies’, that people automatically think of things you ingest (herbs, etc.). They forget that there are many exercises which can help various symptoms and you don’t have to worry about possible reactions to what you are eating or drinking.
Siddha is an alternative medicine.
I totally believe in alternate medicines. Not which doctor type. homeopathic is what I grew up on. I am convinced it works as well or better than OTC’s.
I’m glad your parents went against conventional thinking and tried alternative remedies. It seems to have worked for them! I know what it’s like to have doctors call you a hypochondriac. I went through that my entire life. That’s why I created my website. I wish continued health to you and your family!
Hello I appreciated your article. I think that it’s crucial when talking about diabetes to at least bring up natural therapies that have been proven to be effective in managing high blood glucose. Several natural herbs can be including in a diabetics treatment that may help maintain a wholesome sugar level.
I’ve suffered with a sensitive stomach myself over the years but not to a great extent like this. Mine is from an intolerable ulcer that never seems to really go. I’m trying out various herbal teas at the moment too to try and cut down on my high caffeine intake but need to take things slowly as I began instantly suffering painful headaches from caffeine withdrawal – just goes to show how bad some of the stuff we put into our body actually is.
Good luck with your alternative remedies and all the best to your family!
in my country, traditional medicine has become part of the culture, alternative medicine of choice for treatment in hospital costs become very expensive, many are not affordable. Hi, I am from Indonesia.