The Truth About Herbal Medicine vs Pharmaceuticals

More than 50% of Americans are presently using supplements to enhance their diet, but how safe is this practice? According to the international campaign group, the Alliance for Natural Health International (ANH-Intl) based in the United Kingdom), you are :

• Almost 1,000 times more likely to be a casualty of  food poisoning than from taking natural medication
• When compared to food supplements, pharmaceuticals are 62,000 times more potentially fatal
• When compared to alternative remedies, pharmaceuticals were 7,750 times more deadly.

These statistics were ascertained from credible sources in the United Kingdom and the European Union, and they place the number of deaths that occurred as a result of using herbs and supplementing one’s diet at an all time low (less than 1 in 10 million).

So Why Is There Skepticism And A General Reluctance To Using Herbal Health Products?

Food supplements and herbal health products, though not posing health risks, were given a huge blow when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tightened its reins and officially made a list demanding evidence of their efficiency and proof of safety. While public pressure led to a modification of the list, the damage made significant inroads into damaging how food supplements and herbal health products were and still are perceived.

Pharmaceuticals Have a Track Record of Fatalities

It is quite Ironic that prescriptions drugs account for more than 125,000 fatalities every year in the United States of America, yet the pharmaceutical  industry receives more favorable ratings and inadequately tested drugs are permitted to be sold and are only recalled when someone dies as a result of using them. The following drugs account for a shockingly high number of fatalities:

1. Analgesics, sedatives, hypnotics, and antipsychotics
2. Cardiovascular drugs
3. Opioids
4. Acetaminophen combinations
5. Antidepressants

Yet even with evidence stacked high against them, pharmaceutical tend to be lauded while dietary and herbal supplements are considered the villainous culprits.

Out With The Drugs

At some point we need to realize that pharmaceuticals and even more specifically prescription drugs are potentially capable of putting us at risk and in the worse case scenario; they could very well kill us. Unfortunately, however, the 21st century has seen a paradigm shift from the abuse of illicit drugs to a shockingly high consumption of prescription drugs, many of which have been fatal. In fact, a report in 2011, shows that prescription drugs now  account for more deaths than hard drugs. We are now also  hearing that  there is also a correlation between a heavy reliance on prescription drugs and the subsequent abuse of narcotics. Now if you were to combine all of these factors with the possibility of inducing deadly side effects; then pharmaceuticals should start looking like a cocktail of death. However, do not panic;  your safest bet is to ensure that you know specifically what you are taking and what exactly the side effects are; after all you owe that to yourself.

In With a Better Lifestyle

It is imperative that you take care of yourself and this will reduce those trips to the doctor, dietary supplements or health products. Here are some tips:

Eat right

This might sound cliched, but you are really what you eat, and if you make the conscious effort to eat the type  of food that will promote your health, then it is likely that you will see your doctor less and you may not need to even supplement your diet.  Make note of the things you eat and try to include food from the major food groups and ensure that you include all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Stay way from refined food and excess salt and sugar which  can be as bad as the pharmaceuticals you are trying to avoid in the first place.

Exercise Away

Eating a balanced diet will result in health benefits, but you will need to exercise to maintain that. Be sure to do a range of exercises that will tone your body, give you muscle strength and keep your heart rate going.

Control Your Thoughts

Being positive will not only put you in a good mood, but it inhibits stress and depression, the production of cancer cells and a whole list of medical conditions. Meditate and be sure to surround yourself with supportive people or find supportive groups that will keep you mentally balanced.

Befriend the Sun

Ensure that you get your fair share of sunshine (moderation is key and do not forget your sunscreen). This is your best source of Vitamin D and so you should make the best use of it whenever you can.

Stock up On Omega-3 Fats

Be kind to your heart, your mind, your muscles and your entire body and take a consistent dose of animal fat derived Omega-3. This will promote a healthy heart and circulatory system, it will reduce cancer-causing free radicals, will support your skeletal system and will shield you from other serious medical conditions.

Clear the Air

Get rid of everything that is capable of polluting the air around you, some of which include repellants, deodorizers, pesticides and insecticides and smoke. If you do all of these then you are on your way to reducing your need for medication in general.