Guest Articles >> Natural Health

Make Your Medicine Cabinet Drug Free

By Erika

In a world where drug companies rule, people want a fast ‘cure’ and antibiotics are in everything from hand cleaner to milk, how do we say no to drugs? My nephews have had more antibiotics in their 6 years on earth than I have had in my entire life. Its no wonder that there are ‘super bugs’ that are resistant to most antibiotics.

Going to the doctor for an annual check up is your personal invitation to prescription land. I’m not talking about diseases and conditions that require drugs to maintain health but the things that we have a choice about taking or not taking. So, the big question is ... how do we stay healthy and drug free?

Better health starts with personal responsibility, lifestyle choices and a bit of research. What keeps you from making healthy choices? Work? Kids? Time? Is your high cholesterol really genetic or could it caused by the junk food that you grab for breakfast or lunch? What about migraine headaches? Could you be dehydrated, drink too much coffee, consume too much sugar or just need a good massage.

Prevention is the best ‘cure’ for disease. Your mother was right; eating your vegetables does make you strong.

Increase your vegetable and fruit intake. Carrots, Broccoli, cauliflower and squash can be eaten raw. Salads are easy to make and store for dinner or lunch. Drink at least 64 ounces of water per day. Dehydration doesn’t just happen in the heat or while playing sports. Water is essential for proper functioning of your organs and helps flush toxins out of your body. Chose healthy grains and breads like brown rice over white rice or whole wheat/rye bread over white. Cut back on coffee, white sugar, white flour, fried foods and high fat foods.

Get enough sleep each night. Try for at least eight hours per night. Sleep is your bodies reset button and not getting enough can negatively affect your immune system, your glandular system, your motor skills and your brain function.

Don’t take more drugs than you have to. Consult with your doctor or better yet, a Naturopath to cut back on drugs you are currently taking. A Naturopath will consider your whole being, lifestyle, give you the tools and information you need to make better drug free choices. Homeopathy is a ‘medicine’ system based on like cures like. Each remedy takes a tiny amount of a substance, dilutes it with water until the actual substance is no longer discernable leaving only the ‘energy’ of the substance. This sounds like the perfect placebo but it truly does work. You body reacts to the ‘energy’ of the substance, sends the proper fighters to combat and conquer the intruder. Homeopathy is safe and does not interact with other medications.

Homeopathy helps you stay healthy by using your body to heal itself.

Here’s a list of simple homeopathic remedies that have helped others, including myself stay drug free. Remedies are sold by dilution strength such as 6x, 30x, and 200x. I use 30x and keep 200x (higher strength) of arnica and arsenicum on hand for emergencies. They come in tiny pill form and are taken 10 minutes before or after eating or drinking. Please keep all homeopathic remedies away from strong scents, as it will lessen their effectiveness.

Allergies- Allium Cepa or an allergy combination product like Natra bios indoor allergy

Anxiety - Aconite

Bee stings, insect bites – Apis Mellifica

Bladder infections- Cantharis, Causticum, Urtica Urens

Bruises, swelling, back pain, and muscles aches- Arnica

Colds and flu- Gelsemium

Cuts and scrapes- Calendula homeopathic and essential oils Lavender and Australian Tea Tree

Diarrhea, vomiting- Arsenicum Album Puncture wounds - Ledum

Eye Strain- Ruta Gravens Tendonitis, carpal tunnel – Ruta Gravens,

Exzema- Chamomilla, Graphites Nerve pain- Hypericum

Fever- Belladonna

Gas- Carbo Vegitalis

Headaches- Aconite, Ignatia

Heartburn- Carbo Vegetalis, Nux Vomica

Insomnia- Coffee Cruda Homeopathic

Poison Ivy- Rhus Toxicum

Sinus- Kali Mur, Nat Mur

Sore throat- Mercurious Vivus

Splinters – Prid homeopathic salve.

There are also herbs and essential oils that are invaluable to have in a drug free medicine cabinet. Topical herbal products such as calendula cream will help cuts heal faster and are safe to use. Other herbal products are generally safe if they are only applied topically. Please consult your doctor or naturopath before taking any herbs internally.

Essential oils are oils extracted from plants or herbs by steam distillation. They are highly concentrated and usage is limited to a few drops. Two essential oils that I would never be without are Lavender and Australian Tea Tree. Lavender oil is from the shrub Lavandula Augustifolia, only the buds are used and it’s properties are: antimicrobial, antiseptic, antidepressant, parasiticidal, and sedative. It can be applied ‘neat’ from the bottle (by the drop) or mixed with water for a spray (10 drops to 2 ounces). Lavender is great topically for burns, acne, eczema, insect bites, headache, nausea and insomnia

Australian Tea Tree oil is made from the tree Melaleuca Alternifolia, both leaves and twigs are used in the production of oil. Tea tree oil is great for cuts, acne, nail fungus, yeast infections, athlete’s foot, wounds, and dandruff. Its properties are: antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, fungicidal and parasiticidal. Tea Tree oil is applied both neat and in dilution with water or oil.

About the Author

Erika is a freelance writer working primarily with sustainable products in the Rubbermaid Commercial Industry. She is a strong advocate for conservation and a drug-free world (every litle step counts).

Disclaimer:

The above guest post is published based on the premise that it will be helpful and informative. The opinions made within it are those of the author and not of sunnyray.org. The links you may find within this post do not necessarily imply our recommendation or endorsement of the views expressed within them.

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